Is patent ductus arteriosus related to staying up late during pregnancy?

Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

Updated on September 11, 2024

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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 Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

54sec

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Can you get pregnant with patent ductus arteriosus?

Firstly, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is not a hereditary disease, so both males and females with PDA can reproduce. However, if the individual is female, it is advisable to treat PDA before pregnancy, as pregnancy can increase the load on the heart. Patients with PDA often have poorer cardiac function. If they are asymptomatic, their compensatory abilities may be reduced. Therefore, for safety, it is recommended that patients with PDA consider conception after minimally invasive interventional treatment or surgical treatment, which is safer. The majority of PDAs can be treated with minimally invasive procedures, so the trauma is relatively minor, and there is no need for excessive worry.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 37sec

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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 4sec

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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

1min 11sec

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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.

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Written by Xie Zhi Hong

Cardiology

56sec

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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.