patent ductus arteriosus
Also written as: PDA — patent ductus arteriosus
A congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus fails to close after birth, causing abnormal blood flow between major vessels.
Full Definition
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect characterized by the persistence of the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel that normally closes within days of birth. In utero, this vessel allows blood to bypass the lungs, but failure to close after birth results in left-to-right shunting of blood from the aorta to the pulmonary artery. Small PDAs may be asymptomatic, while larger ones can cause congestive heart failure, poor feeding, and failure to thrive. Treatment options include medical management with NSAIDs to promote closure, or surgical ligation in cases where medical therapy fails. The condition is more common in premature infants.
Usage
Usage note: Note that 'patent' means 'open' in this context, not related to legal patents. Commonly abbreviated as PDA.
In Context
- "Echocardiography confirmed a moderate patent ductus arteriosus with left-to-right shunting." — Cardiology consultation note