A ductus is a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta thereby allowing the blood to bypass the baby’s lungs. This structure is normal before the birth of a baby but should close immediately after birth. Failure of closure after 10 days of life makes this opening abnormal. If the defect is small no symptoms can be felt by the individual. Large defects however produces symptoms of dyspnea, poor weight gait, congestive heart failure, and failure to thrive. There is also the presence of murmur heard on physical examination. Like other congenital heart diseases, PDA is also associated with prematurity and low birth weight. It is also associated with other heart diseases like coarctation of the aorta, ventral septal defect, and transposition of the great vessels. Fluid restriction is advised to these patients. Surgery is done to older children if the defect interferes with their daily activity Labels: PDA |
