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.