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Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Medical Questions » Patent Ductus Arteriosus
| Name: Patent Ductus Arteriosus |
| Also known as: PDA |
| Failure of an artery near the heart that bypasses the lungs, to close immediately after birth. |
Causes of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
A fetus inside the mother' s womb (uterus) does not breathe, but obtains its oxygen directly from the mother' s blood. The foetal blood is diverted away from the lungs through an artery (ductus arteriosus) which connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta. Immediately after birth, this special artery contracts and closes, diverting the full supply of blood into the lungs, which assists in their expansion, and enables the newborn baby to obtain its oxygen requirements by breathing. If the ductus arteriosus remains open after birth (' patent' ) it will divert unoxygenated blood away from the lungs and into the general circulation. This prevents sufficient oxygen from reaching the body, and eventually the baby may become blue. |
Symptoms of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
No early symptoms, but as the heart has to work harder it will gradually enlarge, and over a period of several months or years, the heart will gradually fail because of the extra work it is required to undertake. |
Tests for Patent Ductus Arteriosus
A characteristic heart murmur can be heard. Diagnosis confirmed by sophisticated X-rays of the heart, electrocardiographs and other specialized tests. |
Treatment for Patent Ductus Arteriosus
The drug indomethacin, commonly used for treating arthritis, causes a patent ductus arteriosus to close. In some cases surgery is necessary.
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Complications of Patent Ductus Arteriosus of its treatment
There may be other serious malformations of the heart present. |
Likely Outcome of Patent Ductus Arteriosus
In some patients, the ductus arteriosus may be partially closed, and the problem is not significant enough to warrant treatment. In others, the dilated patent ductus arteriosus may be life-threatening. Normal life expectancy once ductus arteriosus has been closed. |
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