A congenital defect characterized by the failure of the ductus arteriosus to close soon after birth. As a consequence, blood from the aorta mixes with blood from the pulmonary artery. If untreated, it may lead to congestive heart failure.

In utero, the ductus arteriosus (DA) serves to divert ventricular output away from the lungs and toward the placenta by connecting the main pulmonary artery to the descending aorta. A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the first 3 days of life is a physiologic shunt in healthy term and preterm newborn infants, and normally is substantially closed within about 24 hours after bith and completely closed after about three weeks. Failure of physiologcal closure is referred to a persistent or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Depending on the degree of left-to-right shunting, PDA can have clinical consequences.

(ductus arteriosus, patent) A congenital heart defect characterized by the persistent opening of fetal DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS that connects the PULMONARY ARTERY to the descending aorta (AORTA, DESCENDING) allowing unoxygenated blood to bypass the lung and flow to the PLACENTA. Normally, the ductus is closed shortly after birth.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistence of the fetal connection (ductus arteriosus) between the aorta and pulmonary artery after birth. In the absence of other structural heart abnormalities or elevated pulmonary vascular resistance, shunting in the PDA will be left to right (from aorta to pulmonary artery). Symptoms may include...

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart. The opening, called the ductus arteriosus, is a normal part of a baby's circulatory system before birth that usually closes shortly after birth. If it remains open, however, it's called a patent ductus arteriosus.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) describes the persistence of a fetal structure, known as the ductus arteriosus, after birth. This vascular structure, which connects the main pulmonary artery to the aorta, allows blood to bypass the lungs in utero. In term infants it functionally closes, usually in the first 48 hours of life.

Patent ductus arteriosus, congenital heart defect characterized by the persistence of the ductus arteriosus, a channel that shunts blood between the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Normally, after birth the pulmonary artery carries blood depleted of oxygen and laden with carbon dioxide from the...