Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart. The heart problem is present from birth. That means it is a congenital heart defect.
An opening called the ductus arteriosus is part of a baby's blood flow system in the womb. It usually closes shortly after birth. If it remains open, 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, untreated patent ductus arteriosus can let oxygen-poor blood move the wrong way. This can weaken the heart muscle, causing heart failure and other complications.
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta, fails to close after birth. This results in abnormal blood flow between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.
- Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing
- Poor feeding and growth
- Fatigue
- Sweating with exertion (such as while feeding)
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Heart murmur (an abnormal heart sound heard through a stethoscope)
PDA is typically diagnosed using:
- Echocardiogram: An ultrasound that provides images of the heart and can show the presence of PDA.
- Chest X-ray: To assess the size of the heart and the condition of the lungs.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): Measures the electrical activity of the heart.
- Cardiac catheterization: In some cases, this procedure is used to get a closer look at the heart
- Observation: Small PDAs may close on their own, especially in premature infants.
- Medications: In preterm infants, medications such as indomethacin or ibuprofen can help close the PDA.
- Catheter-based procedures: A non-surgical method where a coil or occluder device is inserted to close the PDA.
- Surgery: In some cases, especially when the PDA is large or causing significant symptoms, surgical closure may be necessary.
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