Question 1

what is a patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

Ductus Arteriosus: A ductus arteriosus is a vessel that allows babies to survive while in utero... It allows blood to bypass the lungs which are full of amniotic fluid and get to the placenta where gas exchange occurs.

A patent ductus arteriosus is simply a vessel that has not closed (patent)  once born the lungs relax and the pressures fall.  As such, extra blood goes to the lungs, inefficient work for the heart.

Question 2

what exactly is patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

PDA: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between 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

Question 3

what?causes ?the patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

Causes the PDA: The PDA is a critical vessel that allows the blood to bypass the lungs and get to the placenta while babys are still inside, in mom's uterus.  The lungs are full of amniotic fluid and don't do any gas exchange (o2 delivery and co2 release)

eveyone is born with a pda, it persists... Open (patent) most commonly in premature babies.
There is no absolute answer as to why it stays open in some people.

Question 4

how do?you ?treat patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

PDA Age Dependent?: Pda closure (age dependent)
1.  Premature infants (medical therapy vs surgical ligation by a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon)

2.  Babies to adults:
cath lab closure, using a coil or device.
Many different types and sizes of coils are available, delivered from a small catheter which is inserted in the femoral artery or vein.
Another option for large pdas is an aga PDA device or vascular plug.

Question 5

what are the tests for patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

Echocardiogram: An ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram, can detect patent ductus arteriosus.  This would generally be done by a cardiologist.

Question 6

what are the symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

Several symptoms. : A (p)persistent (d)ductus (a) allows blood to be shunted from the aorta to the pulmonary artery therefore causing more blood to go to the lungs. If the PDA is large, the increased blood flow to the lungs will determine a faster rate and work of breathing, the heart will enlarge and failure to thrive (grow appropriately). A PDA can and should be closed by a cardiologist or surgeon.

Question 7

i want to know what's the patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

PDA: The PDA is an artery that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta. It is present in everyone and is necessary for survival during fetal life. It allows blood to bypass the fluid filled lungs of the fetus and flow into the aorta and through the umbilical arteries back to the placenta. It normally closes within the first 72-96 hours of life. Occasionally it fails to close, requiring intervention.

Question 8

when do you worry about a patent ductus arteriosus?

Accepted Answer

Seldom: In a child whose ductus has not closed, the decision to try to induce closure with medication, or to ligate, is made by the physicians. An older child's patent ductus missed in infancy may be picked up as a murmur; it is not subtle, and usually needs treatment to prevent damage to the lungs and to enable junior to keep up in sports.

Question 9

why did patent ductus arteriosus commonly left open?

Accepted Answer

Confusing question: A PDA is an energy saving bypass used in the developing fetus to send most of the hearts  blood flow to the body rather than the lungs before birth. After birth, the rise in blood oxygen content usually triggers the bypass to close.It remains open in some cases & can create problems in later life. Closure by medicine, catheter or surgery is the common practice in the us by school age.

Question 10

how expensive is the patent ductus arteriosus repair?

Accepted Answer

Widely variable: The cost of PDA repair is widely variable both by location of where in the US it is done and the procedure performed (surgery vs. catheter). Most are now done by catheter with no incision and less than a one day stay. This is a great (and fair) question to ask your doctor's office/hospital where this will be done. In these days of managed care, I believe its best to know what you are getting into.

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Patent ductus arteriosus

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What is a patent ductus arteriosus?

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What exactly is patent ductus arteriosus?

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