Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect wherein a child’s ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth. Symptoms are uncommon but in the first year of life include increased work of breathing and poor weight gain. In older children or adults the PDA may lead to congestive heart failure if left uncorrected (source: wikipedia.org).

PDA can be a result of an environmental exposure before birth, inheriting a specific changed or mutated gene or genes, a symptom of a genetic syndrome, or be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors (multifactorial). Environmental exposures that can increase the chance for a baby to be affected by PDA include fetal exposure to rubella before birth, preterm delivery, and birth at a high altitude location (source: thefreedictionary.com).

This Journal of Cardiology described Embryology, Normal Physiology, Epidemiology, Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, Natural History and Complications, Medical Management, and Definitive Therapy: Closure of PDA. It stated here that ductus closure is clearly indicated for any child or adult who is symptomatic from significant left-to-right shunting through the PDA. In asymptomatic patients closure is indicated to minimize the risk of complications in the future.

This article was written by Douglas J. Schneider, MD; John W. Moore, MD, MPH from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria and Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Children’s Hospital of Illinois, Peoria, Ill (D.J.S.); and University of California at San Diego and Rady’s Children’s Hospital, San Diego (J.W.M.).

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