Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Patent Ductus Arteriosus(PDA) is a congenital heart defect in which the ductus arteriosus, a normal fetal blood vessel connecting the aorta and pulmonary artery, fails to close after birth. Normally, this vessel seals within the first few days of life. When it remains open, oxygen-rich blood flows abnormally from the aorta into the pulmonary artery, increasing blood circulation to the lungs and placing an extra workload on the heart.

The severity of PDA depends on the size of the opening. Small PDAs may produce no symptoms and are sometimes discovered during routine examinations because of a characteristic heart murmur. Larger defects can cause rapid breathing, poor feeding, slow weight gain, frequent respiratory infections, excessive sweating, fatigue, and signs of heart failure in infants.

Treatment is determined by the patient's age, symptoms, and the size of the defect. Premature infants may respond to medications that encourage duct closure. In older infants, children, and adults, catheter-based device closure is the preferred minimally invasive treatment for many cases. Surgical ligation or division is recommended when catheter closure is unsuitable or the defect is particularly large.

With timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the prognosis is excellent. Most patients recover completely, experience normal heart function, and enjoy healthy, active lives with regular follow-up to monitor long-term cardiovascular health.