How to treat patent ductus arteriosus?

Written by Tang Li
Cardiology
Updated on September 01, 2024
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The arterial duct connects the main pulmonary artery to the descending aorta, serving as the primary channel for blood circulation during the fetal period. After birth, it generally becomes obstructed within a few months due to disuse; if it remains open after one year, it is referred to as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The length and diameter of an unclosed arterial duct vary, affecting hemodynamics differently, and consequently, prognoses differ. An unclosed arterial duct can easily induce infectious endocarditis; thus, even if the shunt is small, it is advisable to seek early interventional or surgical treatment. The surgery has a high safety success rate and can be performed at any age. However, surgery is contraindicated for patients who have developed secondary pulmonary artery obstruction and exhibit right-to-left shunting.

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Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Does patent ductus arteriosus cause easy sweating?

The arterial duct is prone to sweating. During this period, it is best to advise patients to monitor changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and pulse. Sometimes there may be incidences of rapid heart rate, as this is a type of congenital heart disease. If a patient is prone to respiratory infections, especially pneumonia, this condition can lead to a decrease in resistance. For such patients with weak constitution, they are more likely to sweat. In terms of treatment, early surgical intervention is advised to alleviate the sweating, and preparations should be made early on.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Can a patent ductus arteriosus heal by itself?

The ductus arteriosus is a duct that fetal blood must pass through as it is transported from the placenta to the aorta. This duct connects between the main pulmonary artery and the aorta of the fetus and generally closes on its own after birth. Most patients can close it spontaneously within three months, but the likelihood of closure diminishes if it surpasses one year. Therefore, for patent ductus arteriosus, some people can heal on their own, while others, especially children over one year old, cannot heal by themselves and are advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible. This is because the patent ductus arteriosus can cause a condition similar to an arteriovenous fistula, increasing the workload on the heart, leading to cardiac hypertrophy and eventual heart failure.

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Written by Chen Tian Hua
Cardiology
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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Can you drink alcohol with a patent ductus arteriosus?

Under normal circumstances, the ductus arteriosus in newborns gradually closes, and in most infants, the ductus arteriosus is completely closed within three months. However, for some people, even after one year of birth, the ductus arteriosus may not necessarily be diagnosed as congenital patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a heart condition. Patients with this condition often experience pathological cardiac phenomena such as left-to-right shunts or right-to-left shunts. Due to these potential issues, the cardiac workload can worsen, leading to cardiac dysfunction and eventually heart failure. Drinking alcohol can potentially increase the patient's blood pressure and heart rate, adding more strain to the heart and exacerbating the condition. Therefore, it is advised that such patients avoid alcohol until after surgical treatment has been completed and their condition has stabilized. There are two methods of surgical treatment: most cases can be completely cured with interventional therapy, while a minority may require surgical ligation.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Why does patent ductus arteriosus cause differential cyanosis?

The arterial duct refers to a blood vessel connecting the main pulmonary artery and the aorta, which is normally present during fetal development. It allows blood from the mother's placenta to seep into the pulmonary artery and then enter the aorta to supply the entire body's vasculature. After the birth of an infant, this blood vessel naturally closes, typically within 3 months, and most people will have it closed by 1 year. If it has not closed after 1 year, it is referred to as patent ductus arteriosus. Because the arterial duct can connect the aorta and the main pulmonary artery, blood from the systemic circulation in the aorta may directly return to the pulmonary artery at this time. If the pulmonary artery blood flow significantly increases, it can lead to pulmonary arterial hypertension and might also cause right ventricular hypertrophy. Increased cardiac workload can lead to right-sided heart failure and may also cause left-sided heart failure. When severe left-sided heart failure occurs, a right-to-left shunt can develop, which allows pulmonary artery blood to directly enter the aorta, causing venous blood to be delivered directly into the systemic circulation. At this point, differential cyanosis occurs, characterized by bluish discoloration of the upper limbs and mild blueness in the lower limbs.