Why is 1/2 of my muscle missing after PDA surgery

[D3AN]

Hi Doctors, I underwent surgery for patent ductus arteriosus as a premature baby. I'm 22 now and half of my pectoral muscle has always been missing where the incision was made. I'm just curious why 1/2 of my muscle is missing. Was it simply not sutured back together? Thanks for any help

[John Kenyon, CNA]

Hello -

My best guess is that during the surgery, when the muscle was separated, due to the location of the incision and the small scale of you as a premature infant, some of the muscle tissue was simply lost outright or to wasting during the healing process. There is such a huge difference not only in scale but in development between adults and less-than-full-term babies that it would be rather surprising if this hadn't happened.

I hope this answers your question adequately. Good luck to you.