Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a heart condition that affects the blood vessels in newborns. Normally, a special blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus closes soon after birth, but in PDA it stays open. This causes blood to flow abnormally between two major arteries, the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The condition mainly affects the heart and lungs, leading to extra blood flow to the lungs and making the heart work harder. Symptoms can include a heart murmur, rapid breathing, and poor feeding. If untreated, PDA can cause heart failure or lung problems. It is more common in premature babies but can occur in full-term infants as well.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by the failure of the ductus arteriosus to close after birth. The ductus arteriosus is a fetal vascular connection between the pulmonary artery and the aorta that normally closes within the first few days of life due to increased oxygen tension and decreased prostaglandin E2 levels. Persistence of this vessel results in a left-to-right shunt, causing increased pulmonary blood flow and volume overload of the left heart chambers. This can lead to pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, and increased risk of endarteritis. PDA is often associated with prematurity and conditions that delay ductal closure. The clinical significance depends on the size of the shunt and the degree of hemodynamic compromise.