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Patent ductus arteriosus
Will patent ductus arteriosus cause left heart failure?
Patent ductus arteriosus can lead to left heart failure. This occurs because of a left-to-right shunt, which increases blood flow to the pulmonary circulation, thereby increasing the workload on the left heart and leading to its enlargement and consequently, left heart failure. In cases of patent ductus arteriosus where the shunt is small, there may be no symptoms. With moderate shunting, common symptoms include fatigue, palpitations after exertion, and breathlessness with chest tightness. A prominent sign is a continuous machinery-like murmur heard at the second intercostal space along the left sternal border and below the left clavicle, often accompanied by a palpable thrill that can be widely transmitted. In severe cases with large shunting, there is often associated severe secondary pulmonary hypertension, leading to a right-to-left shunt, often manifesting as cyanosis and severe clinical symptoms. Once diagnosed, patent ductus arteriosus must be treated.
Will patent ductus arteriosus cause mitral regurgitation?
Patent ductus arteriosus usually does not cause mitral regurgitation. Since the pressure in the aorta is greater than that in the pulmonary artery, blood from the aorta will shunt to the pulmonary artery, significantly increasing blood flow in the pulmonary circulation. This eventually leads to pulmonary hypertension, causing an increased afterload on the right ventricle. Over time, an increased afterload on the right ventricle can lead to right ventricular enlargement and right heart failure, resulting in dilation of the tricuspid annulus and tricuspid regurgitation due to incomplete closure. Patients with patent ductus arteriosus need to seek prompt medical assessment to determine the need for surgical treatment. For patients with surgical indications, surgery should be administered promptly to avoid the adverse consequences of long-term blood shunting.
Is a 5mm patent ductus arteriosus serious?
Patent ductus arteriosus is a type of congenital heart defect. Typically, the ductus arteriosus is expected to close on its own, but if it remains open over time and is larger than about five centimeters, it is crucial to seek surgical treatment at a hospital promptly. Currently, there are no particularly effective medications to improve this condition since it is a congenital heart disease. Early surgical intervention is recommended. This condition is considered serious, and during this period, it is important to actively prevent upper respiratory infections, as they can repeatedly lead to pulmonary inflammation.
Can patent ductus arteriosus cause shortness of breath?
Patent ductus arteriosus can indeed cause shortness of breath. Patent ductus arteriosus refers to a duct between the aorta and the pulmonary artery that fails to close after birth. This can cause blood from the aorta to shunt into the pulmonary artery, leading to high pressure in the pulmonary artery and causing pulmonary congestion, which can lead to pulmonary edema and symptoms such as difficulty breathing. Therefore, if the pulmonary hypertension is not severe, there might still be an opportunity for surgery. Once patent ductus arteriosus is diagnosed and if the timing is appropriate, it is recommended to perform occlusion or surgical treatment as soon as possible to prevent pulmonary hypertension and potentially inducing heart enlargement, which may trigger heart failure.
Can you run with a patent ductus arteriosus?
Patients with patent ductus arteriosus should avoid running. The condition can cause a left-to-right shunt, increasing pulmonary circulation and the volume of blood returning to the left heart system, which in turn leads to increased left heart workload and potential left heart dysfunction. In adults with patent ductus arteriosus, the clinical symptoms vary depending on the size of the shunt. Those with very small shunts may exhibit no subjective symptoms clinically. Patients with moderate shunts often experience symptoms such as fatigue, palpitations after activity, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Those with large shunts, often accompanied by severe secondary pulmonary hypertension, may experience a right-to-left shunt, leading to cyanosis and very severe clinical symptoms.
Does patent ductus arteriosus affect appetite?
When patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) progresses to a certain extent, it can affect appetite. If the patent ductus arteriosus causes pulmonary arterial hypertension, leading to right heart failure, it results in congestion of the gastrointestinal tract and the liver. This significantly impacts the digestive and absorption functions of the gastrointestinal tract, causing reduced appetite in the patient. Some patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, and abdominal distension. For patients with patent ductus arteriosus, if there are indications for surgery, timely surgical treatment should be carried out to correct the anatomical abnormalities and prevent the progressive worsening of the patent ductus arteriosus, which could lead to adverse outcomes.
Does patent ductus arteriosus require open chest surgery?
Now, many cases of patent ductus arteriosus do not require open-chest surgery, as they can be treated minimally invasively by cardiologists through what is called interventional treatment. The ductus arteriosus is actually a vessel between the aorta and the pulmonary artery during the embryonic stage, which usually closes shortly after birth. If it does not close, it results in a congenital heart disease. In the past, before the widespread use of interventional treatments, open-chest surgery was required to ligate the vessel. With the broad implementation of interventional treatments, cardiologists can now treat this condition minimally invasively. This is mainly done by delivering a spring coil through a catheter to the ductus arteriosus which then blocks the vessel, allowing it to gradually close and thus achieve the therapeutic goal. Alternatively, a gelatin sponge can be delivered to the ductus arteriosus through a catheter to block and eventually close the vessel, achieving the desired treatment outcome.
Can a patent ductus arteriosus cause cyanosis of the lips?
Patent ductus arteriosus generally refers to a condition in infants where the tubular passage between the aorta and pulmonary artery fails to fully close within the first year after birth. This results in altered blood flow within the heart, leading to the occurrence of patent ductus arteriosus. This blood flow disorder can increase the burden on the heart, causing recurrent episodes of breathlessness and breathing difficulties, and in severe cases, can lead to serious heart failure. If left untreated until the late stages, right-to-left shunting may occur, causing a serious mixing of arterial and venous blood. This leads to venous blood being ejected directly outside the body, causing a bluish-purple discoloration in the patient. Such conditions indicate a particularly severe heart disease. However, the majority of cases of patent ductus arteriosus can be addressed through minimally invasive interventional treatments. It is a simple congenital heart disease that should be treated promptly.
Can patent ductus arteriosus be treated with medication?
The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery to the aorta in the fetal heart, primarily used during the embryonic stage to supply blood from the mother to the heart, thus providing sufficient oxygenated blood for fetal development and growth. Generally, the ductus arteriosus should close automatically within three months after birth. If it remains open for over a year, it may indicate a congenital heart defect known as patent ductus arteriosus. Previously, high doses of aspirin were used to treat this condition, but this treatment was not very effective. Patients with patent ductus arteriosus should instead consider minimally invasive interventional treatments to seal the duct, or surgical ligation can be performed. However, surgical ligation may cause significant trauma or scarring to the patient. The majority of cases with patent ductus arteriosus can be treated using minimally invasive methods.
What will happen if patent ductus arteriosus is not treated with surgery?
Patients with patent ductus arteriosus are characterized by a congenital connection between the pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. This is a remnant passageway that was used during embryonic development to supply blood within the umbilical vessels, ensuring the development of the infant. Normally, this ductus arteriosus may close on its own within a few months. If it does not close after one year from birth, it is considered a patent ductus arteriosus. This condition can lead to increased workload on the heart. Because it allows blood pumped into the aorta to return to the right ventricle, over time, this can increase the burden on the left ventricle as well as the right ventricle. This may lead to heart failure and, in severe cases, trigger Eisenmenger's syndrome. If this condition reaches such a state, the patient loses the opportunity for surgery, resulting in a shortened lifespan.