Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
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Patent ductus arterious, shown in the heart on the right, is an abnormal opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. A normal heart is shown on the left.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart. The opening, called the ductus arteriosus, is a normal part of a baby’s circulatory system before birth that usually closes shortly after birth. If it remains open, however, it’s called a patent ductus arteriosus.
A small patent ductus arteriosus often doesn’t cause problems and might never need treatment. However, a large patent ductus arteriosus left untreated can allow poorly oxygenated blood to flow in the wrong direction, weakening the heart muscle and causing heart failure and other complications.
Treatment options for a patent ductus arteriosus include monitoring, medications, and closure by cardiac catheterization or surgery.
Patent ductus arteriosus care at Mayo Clinic
Patent ductus arteriosus symptoms vary with the size of the defect and whether the baby is full term or premature. A small PDA might cause no signs or symptoms and go undetected for some time — even until adulthood. A large PDA can cause signs of heart failure soon after birth.
Your baby’s doctor might first suspect a heart defect during a regular checkup after hearing a heart murmur while listening to your baby’s heart through a stethoscope.
A large PDA found during infancy or childhood might cause:
Contact the doctor if your baby or older child:
Congenital heart defects arise from problems early in the heart’s development — but there’s often no clear cause. Genetic factors might play a role.
Before birth, a vascular connection (ductus arteriosus) between two major blood vessels leading from the heart — the aorta and pulmonary artery — is necessary for a baby’s blood circulation. The ductus arteriosus diverts blood from a baby’s lungs while they develop, and the baby receives oxygen from the mother’s circulation.
After birth, the ductus arteriosus normally closes within two or three days. In premature infants, the connection often takes longer to close. If the connection remains open, it’s referred to as a patent ductus arteriosus.
The abnormal opening causes too much blood to circulate to the baby’s lungs and heart. Untreated, the blood pressure in the baby’s lungs might increase (pulmonary hypertension) and the baby’s heart might enlarge and weaken.
Risk factors for having a patent ductus arteriosus include:
A small patent ductus arteriosus might not cause complications. Larger, untreated defects could cause:
Most women who have a small patent ductus arteriosus can tolerate pregnancy without problems. However, having a larger defect or complications — such as heart failure, arrhythmias or pulmonary hypertension — can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. If you have Eisenmenger syndrome, pregnancy should be avoided as it can be life-threatening.
If you have a heart defect, repaired or not, discuss family planning with your doctor. In some cases, preconception consultations with doctors who specialize in congenital cardiology, genetics and high-risk obstetric care are needed. Some heart medications can cause serious problems for a developing baby, and it might be necessary to stop or adjust the medications before you become pregnant.
There’s no sure way to prevent having a baby with a patent ductus arteriosus. However, it’s important to do everything possible to have a healthy pregnancy. Here are some of the basics:
If you have a family history of heart defects or other genetic disorders, consider talking with a genetic counselor before becoming pregnant.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) care at Mayo Clinic
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Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
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