Guide To Managing Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital heart defect that occurs when the ductus arteriosus, a normal hole in the aorta present before birth, fails to close once the baby is born. Typically, the ductus arteriosus closes naturally within a few days of the baby's birth. Premature infants are more likely to have patent ductus arteriosus. While small openings may not need treatment, larger openings could enable blood to flow in the wrong direction, leading to a weak heart and heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus is twice as common in female patients as it is in males, and babies born at altitudes above ten thousand feet are at an elevated risk of this heart condition.