All the content of the library is provided from Mayo Clinic in English.
As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, RSPP has special access to Mayo Clinic knowledge and resources.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart.
An opening called the ductus arteriosus is part of the blood flow system in the womb for an unborn baby, also called a fetus. It usually closes shortly after birth. If the opening remains open, it's called a patent ductus arteriosus. A PDA is a type of congenital heart defect.
A small PDA might never need treatment. But a large, untreated patent ductus arteriosus can let oxygen-poor blood move the wrong way. This can make the heart muscle weak, causing heart failure and other complications.
Treatments for patent ductus arteriosus may include regular health checkups, medicines, and a procedure or surgery to close the opening.
Patent ductus arteriosus symptoms (PDA) depend on the size of the opening and the person's age. A small PDA might not cause symptoms. Some people don't notice symptoms until adulthood. A large PDA can cause symptoms of heart failure soon after birth.
A large PDA found during infancy or childhood might cause:
Contact a healthcare professional if your baby or older child:
The exact causes of patent ductus arteriosus and other congenital heart defects are not clear. During the first six weeks of pregnancy, an unborn baby's heart starts to form and beat. The major blood vessels to and from the heart grow. It's during this time that certain congenital heart defects may begin to develop.
Before birth, there is a temporary opening called the ductus arteriosus between the two main blood vessels leaving a baby's heart. Those vessels are the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The opening is needed for a baby's blood flow before birth. It moves blood away from a baby's lungs while they develop. The baby gets oxygen from the mother's blood.
After birth, the ductus arteriosus is no longer needed. It usually closes within 2 to 3 days. But in some infants, the opening doesn't close. When it stays open, it's called a patent ductus arteriosus.
The constant opening causes too much blood to flow to the baby's lungs and heart. Untreated, the blood pressure in the baby's lungs might increase. The baby's heart might grow larger and get weak.
Risk factors for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) include:
A small patent ductus arteriosus might not cause complications. Larger, untreated PDAs could cause:
It may be possible to have a successful pregnancy with a small patent ductus arteriosus. However, having a large PDA or a complication such as heart failure, lung damage or irregular heartbeats increases the risk of serious complications during pregnancy.
Before becoming pregnant, talk with your healthcare professional about possible pregnancy risks and complications. Some heart medicines can be dangerous for an unborn baby. Your healthcare professional may stop or change your medicines before you become pregnant.
Together you can plan for any special care needed during pregnancy. If you are at high risk of having a baby with a heart condition present at birth, genetic testing and screening may be done during pregnancy.
There is no known prevention for patent ductus arteriosus. However, it's important to do everything possible to have a healthy pregnancy. Here are some of the basics:
To diagnose patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a healthcare professional does a physical exam and asks questions about you or your child's medical history. The healthcare professional may hear a heart sound called a murmur while listening to the heart with a stethoscope.
Tests can help diagnose patent ductus arteriosus.
Treatments for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) depend on the age of the person being treated.
Some people with small PDAs may only need regular health checkups to watch for complications. A premature baby born with patent ductus arteriosus also needs regular checkups to make sure the opening closes.
A premature baby born with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may get medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These medicines, also called NSAIDs, block certain body chemicals that keep the PDA open. However, these medicines won't close a PDA in full-term babies, children or adults.
In the past, healthcare professionals told people born with patent ductus arteriosus to take antibiotics to prevent infection before dental work and some surgeries. This is no longer recommended for most people with patent ductus arteriosus. Ask your healthcare professional whether preventive antibiotics are necessary. They might be recommended after certain heart procedures.
Treatments to close a patent ductus arteriosus include:
Using a thin tube called a catheter and a plug or coil to close the opening. This treatment is called a catheter procedure. It lets a doctor repair the opening without open-heart surgery.
To do this treatment, the doctor places the catheter into a blood vessel in the groin and guides it to the heart. A plug or coil goes through the catheter. The plug or coil closes the patent ductus arteriosus. The treatment doesn't usually need an overnight hospital stay.
Premature babies are too small for catheter treatments. If the PDA isn't causing trouble, a catheter treatment to close the opening may be done when the baby is older.
Open-heart surgery to close the PDA. This treatment is called surgical closure. It may be needed if medicine doesn't work or if the PDA is large or causing complications.
A surgeon makes a small cut between the ribs to reach the heart. The PDA is closed using stitches or clips. It usually takes a few weeks to fully recover from this surgery.
Some people born with PDA need regular health checkups for life, even after treatment to close the opening. During these checkups, a healthcare professional may do tests to check for complications. Talk with your healthcare professional about your care plan. Ideally, it's best to seek care from a doctor trained in treating adults with heart conditions before birth. This type of doctor is called a congenital cardiologist.
Anyone born with a patent ductus arteriosus needs to take steps to keep the heart healthy and prevent complications. These tips can help.
A large patent ductus arteriosus or one that's causing serious health concerns may be diagnosed immediately at birth. But some smaller ones might not be found until later in life. If you have a PDA, you may be referred to a doctor trained in heart conditions present at birth. This type of doctor is called a congenital cardiologist. A doctor with training in kids' heart conditions is called a pediatric cardiologist.
Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.
For patent ductus arteriosus, questions to ask include:
Don't hesitate to ask other questions.
The healthcare professional is likely to ask many questions, such as: