Definition
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus fails to close normally in an infant soon after birth. (The word "patent" means open.)
The condition leads to abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery, two major blood vessels surrounding the heart.
Symptoms
A small PDA may not cause any symptoms. However, most infants do not tolerate a PDA and may have symptoms such as:
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Definition
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition in which a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus fails to close normally in an infant soon after birth. (The word "patent" means open.)
The condition leads to abnormal blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery, two major blood vessels surrounding the heart.
Symptoms
A small PDA may not cause any symptoms. However, most infants do not tolerate a PDA and may have symptoms such as:
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Causes
Before birth, the ductus arteriosus allows blood to bypass the baby's lungs by connecting the pulmonary arteries (which supply blood to the lungs) with the aorta (which supplies blood to the body). Soon after the infant is born and the lungs fill with air, this blood vessel is no longer needed. It will usually close within a couple of days. If the ductus arteriosus does not close, there will be abnormal blood circulation between the heart and lungs.
PDA is rare. It affects girls more often than boys. The condition is more common in premature infants and those with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome . Infants with genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome, and whose mothers had German measles (rubella) during pregnancy are at higher risk for PDA.
PDA is common in babies with congenital heart problems, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, transposition of the ...
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Treatment
The goal of treatment, if the rest of circulation is normal or close to normal, is to close the PDA. In the presence of certain other heart problems, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the PDA may actually be lifesaving.
Sometimes, a PDA may close on its own. Premature babies have a high rate of closure within the first 2 years of life. In full-term infants, a PDA rarely closes on its own after the first few weeks.
When treatment is appropriate, medications such as indomethacin or a special form of ibuprofen are generally the first choice.
If these measures do not work or can't be used, a medical procedure may be needed.
A transcatheter device closure is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, hollow tube. The doctor ...
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Possible Complications
If the patent ductus is not closed, the infant has a risk of developing heart failure, bleeding in the lungs, problems with lung development, or infective endocarditis -- an infection of the inner lining of the heart.
Outlook (Prognosis)
If a small PDA remains open, heart symptoms may or may not eventually develop. Persons with a moderate or large PDA will usually develop heart problems sooner or later unless the PDA is closed.
Closure with medications can work very well in some situations, with few side effects. Early treatment with medications is more likely to be successful.
Surgery carries its own significant risks. It may eliminate some of the problems of a PDA, but it can also introduce a new set of problems. The potential benefits and risks should be weighed carefully before choosing surgery.
Prevention
Preventing preterm deliveries, where possible, is the most effective way to prevent PDA.
Exams and Tests
Babies with PDA often have a characteristic heart murmur that can be heard with a stethoscope. However, in premature infants, a heart murmur may not be heard. Doctor's may suspect the condition if the infant has breathing or feeding problems soon after birth.
Changes may be seen on chest x-rays. The diagnosis is confirmed with an echocardiogram.
Sometimes, a small PDA may not be diagnosed until later in childhood.
References
Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine , 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2007.
