Is a 4mm patent ductus arteriosus considered large?

Written by Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Patent ductus arteriosus is a type of congenital heart disease. Generally, patients around the age of six months to one year may not necessarily have their ductus arteriosus close. If it does not close by around one year of age, it is considered a congenital heart disease, and it is recommended to seek early surgical treatment at a hospital. Surgery is needed if the condition exceeds approximately 4mm in size. If the patient currently shows no symptoms, it is possible to initially observe the condition. However, if symptoms persist, accompanied by palpitations, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, especially if respiratory infections recur, treatment is necessary.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong
Cardiology
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Is patent ductus arteriosus related to staying up late during pregnancy?

The arterial duct refers to a continuous duct between the main trunk of the pulmonary artery and the aorta during the embryonic period of the fetus. Through this duct, blood from the placenta can be delivered to the infant's body for tissue oxygenation. Therefore, the arterial duct is originally a normal tissue in the embryo. After the birth of the infant, the majority of arterial ducts will close within a few months. If it has not closed after one year, it can be diagnosed as congenital patent ductus arteriosus. Therefore, there is no relationship between patent ductus arteriosus and staying up late during pregnancy.

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Written by Jia Qiu Ju
Cardiology
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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.

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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 Di Zhi Yong
Cardiology
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Which is more serious, patent ductus arteriosus or ventricular septal defect?

Both of these diseases are types of congenital heart disease, and if there are issues with either of them, the situation can be quite severe. There isn't a distinction between which disease is severe and which is not. If the arterial duct remains open or does not close, surgery is still required for this condition. Patients with ventricular septal defect primarily display changes related to ischemia and hypoxia, and they may also experience recurrent respiratory infections, which are quite serious. Surgery is generally the best treatment. Early surgical intervention can achieve a complete cure, but it is also advisable for the patient to have regular echocardiographic check-ups at the hospital.

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Written by Fan Yan Fu
Cardiology
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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.