Patent ductus arteriosus

A defect of the heart in which the ductus arteriosus (a channel between the pulmonary artery and the aorta in the fetus) fails to close at birth. It affects about 60 babies per 100,000. In the fetus, blood pumped by the right side of the heart flows through the ductus arteriosus and bypasses the lungs (see fetal circulation). At or shortly after birth, the ductus usually closes. In some babies this closure may fail to happen, preventing normal circulation. There are usually no symptoms unless a large amount of blood is misdirected, in which case the baby fails to gain weight, becomes short of breath on exertion, and may have frequent chest infections. Eventually, heart failure may develop. Diagnosis is made from hearing a heart murmur, from chest X-rays, and from an ECG and echocardiography. The drug indometacin or surgery may be used to close the duct.