A 43-year-old member asked:
What sort of symptoms are in a child with patent ductus arteriosus?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. John Charpieanswered
Pediatric Cardiology 33 years experience
It varies: Children with patent ductus arteriosus (pda) may be entirely asymptomatic (often diagnosed by a typical heart murmur) or they may have signs and symptoms of congesitve heart failure secondary to a left-to-right shunt. These symptoms may include a fast heart rate, fast, abnormal breathing, and failure to gain weight appropriately. The symptoms depend on the size of the PDA and degree of shunting.
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5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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A 34-year-old member asked:
What activities should?A child ?Stay away if they have?A patent ductus arteriosus?
3 doctor answers • 9 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joshua Murphyanswered
Pediatric Cardiology 21 years experience
Size Matters in PDAs: A tiny, "silent ductus" is essentially one that can be ignored. No restrictions!
other pdas may cause mild inefficiency in the work of the heart. Kids will get tired sooner than if they didn't have this pda. This isn't dangerous.
However, i would not hesitate to close a PDA in the cath lab by coil or device embolization.
It is a relatively low risk cath procedure. Outpatient or overnight stay.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What are the symptoms of patent ductus arteriosus?
1 doctor answer • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Marco Paliottaanswered
Thoracic Surgery 32 years experience
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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Matthias Peuster commented
Pediatrics - Cardiology 11 years experience
Should be closed depending on the size of the ductus.
Dec 16, 2012
A 46-year-old member asked:
What are the tests for patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 15 doctors weighed in
Dr. Sarah Cuevaanswered
Pediatrics 23 years experience
Echocardiogram: An ultrasound of the heart, called an echocardiogram, can detect patent ductus arteriosus. This would generally be done by a cardiologist.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 29-year-old member asked:
When do you worry about a patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Ed Friedlanderanswered
Pathology 46 years experience
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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Ed Friedlander commented
Pathology 46 years experience
Provided original answer
To clarify -- there's almost never a need to "worry" this will be a long-term threat to health. There's much that can't be put into 400 words, and I agree with my colleague's suggestion that this be fixed by school age at the latest
Sep 11, 2012
A 33-year-old member asked:
What?Causes ?The patent ductus arteriosus?
2 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Joshua Murphyanswered
Pediatric Cardiology 21 years experience
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.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 3, 2015
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