What Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a heart problem that occurs soon after birth in some babies. In PDA, there is an abnormal circulation of blood between two of the major arteries near the heart. Before birth, the two major arteries—the aorta and the pulmonary artery—are normally connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus, which is an essential part of the fetal circulation. After birth, the vessel is supposed to close within a few days as part of the normal changes occurring in the baby's circulation. In some babies, however, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent). This opening allows blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery, which can put a strain on the heart and increase the blood pressure in the lung arteries.

Figure A shows the normal anatomy and blood flow of the interior of the heart. Figure B shows a heart with a patent ductus arteriosus. The defect connects the aorta with the pulmonary artery, allowing oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to mix with oxygen-poor blood in the pulmonary artery.

A PDA is a type of congenital heart defect. A congenital heart defect is any type of heart problem that is present at birth.

If your baby has a PDA, but has an otherwise normal heart, the PDA may shrink and go away completely, or it may need to be treated to close it. But, if your baby is born with certain types of heart defects that decrease blood flow from the heart to the lungs or the body, medicine may be given to keep the ductus arteriosus open to maintain blood flow and oxygen levels until corrective surgery for the heart defect(s) can be performed.

About 3,000 infants are diagnosed with PDA each year in the United States. It is more common in premature infants (babies born too early) but does occur in full-term infants. Premature babies with PDA are more vulnerable to its effects. PDA is twice as common in girls as in boys.

The next section, How the Heart Works, provides a more detailed description of a heart with a PDA compared to a normal heart. See that section for a more detailed description of the anatomy and circulation of a normal heart.

How the Heart Works

Your child’s heart is a muscle about the size of his or her fist. It works like a pump and beats 100,000 times a day.

The heart has two sides, separated by an inner wall called the septum. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs to pick up oxygen. Then, oxygen-rich blood returns from the lungs to the left side of the heart, and the left side pumps it to the body.

The heart has four chambers and four valves and is connected to various blood vessels. Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood from the body to the heart. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the body.

A Healthy Heart Cross-Section

The illustration shows a cross-section of a healthy heart and its inside structures. The blue arrow shows the direction in which oxygen-poor blood flows from the body to the lungs. The red arrow shows the direction in which oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs to the rest of the body.

Heart Chambers

The heart has four chambers or "rooms."

• The atria (AY-tree-uh) are the two upper chambers that collect blood as it comes into the heart.
• The ventricles (VEN-trih-kuls) are the two lower chambers that pump blood out of the heart to the lungs or other parts of the body.

Heart Valves

Four valves control the flow of blood from the atria to the ventricles and from the ventricles into the two large arteries connected to the heart.

• The tricuspid (tri-CUSS-pid) valve is in the right side of the heart, between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
• The pulmonary (PULL-mun-ary) valve is in the right side of the heart, between the right ventricle and the entrance to the pulmonary artery, which carries blood to the lungs.
• The mitral (MI-trul) valve is in the left side of the heart, between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
• The aortic (ay-OR-tik) valve is in the left side of the heart, between the left ventricle and the entrance to the aorta, the artery that carries blood to the body.

Valves are like doors that open and close. They open to allow blood to flow through to the next chamber or to one of the arteries, and then they shut to keep blood from flowing backward.

When the heart's valves open and close, they make a "lub-DUB" sound that a doctor can hear using a stethoscope.

• The first sound—the “lub”—is made by the mitral and tricuspid valves closing at the beginning of systole (SIS-toe-lee). Systole is when the ventricles contract, or squeeze, and pump blood out of the heart.
• The second sound—the “DUB”—is made by the aortic and pulmonary valves closing at beginning of diastole (di-AS-toe-lee). Diastole is when the ventricles relax and fill with blood pumped into them by the atria.

Arteries

The arteries are major blood vessels connected to your heart.

• The pulmonary artery carries blood pumped from the right side of the heart to the lungs to pick up a fresh supply of oxygen.
• The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood pumped from the left side of the heart out to the body.
• The coronary arteries are the other important arteries attached to the heart. They carry oxygen-rich blood from the aorta to the heart muscle, which must have its own blood supply to function.

Veins

The veins are also major blood vessels connected to your heart.

• The pulmonary veins carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the left side of the heart so it can be pumped out to the body.
• The vena cava is a large vein that carries oxygen-poor blood from the body back to the heart.

For more information on how a healthy heart works, see the Diseases and Conditions Index article on How the Heart Works. This article contains animations that show how your heart pumps blood and how your heart’s electrical system works.

The Heart With Patent Ductus Arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that connects a baby's aorta and pulmonary artery while the baby is in the womb. This connection allows blood to be pumped from the right side of the heart straight to the aorta without stopping at the lungs for oxygen. In the womb, only a small amount of a baby's blood needs to go to the lungs because the baby gets oxygen from the mother's bloodstream. The baby's pulmonary artery, which carries blood to the lungs, is not needed at this time.

After birth, the baby is no longer connected to the mother's bloodstream. The baby's blood must now go to his or her own lungs to get oxygen. Normally, as the baby begins to breathe on his or her own, the pulmonary artery opens to allow blood into the lungs, and the ductus arteriosus closes. Once the ductus arteriosus closes, blood leaving the right side of the heart no longer goes straight to the aorta. First, it goes through the pulmonary arteries and stops at the lungs to pick up oxygen. Then, blood carrying oxygen returns to the left side of the heart and is pumped out to the rest of the body.

If the ductus arteriosus does not close after birth as it should, it is called a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A PDA allows blood to flow directly from the aorta into the pulmonary artery and from there to the lungs. This extra amount of blood flowing into the lungs strains the heart and increases the blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs.

Effects of patent ductus arteriosus

Normal birth-weight infants. The larger a PDA is, the greater the amount of extra blood that passes through the lungs. A small PDA might not cause any problems, whereas a larger PDA is likely to cause problems.

PDA can increase the risk of bacterial endocarditis. Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the lining of the heart, valves, or arteries. In the case of PDA, the increased flow of blood can irritate the lining of the pulmonary artery where the PDA connects. This irritation makes it easier for bacteria in the bloodstream to collect and grow there.

A large PDA that is allowed to remain open for an extended period of time can cause the heart to enlarge and to have to work harder. Also, fluid can build up in the lungs.

Premature infants. For premature infants (babies born too early), PDA can be more serious than in normal-weight babies. Preemies with PDA are more likely to have damage to their lungs from the extra blood flowing through the PDA. Preemies with PDA may need to be on a ventilator to help them with their breathing.

The increased flow of blood through the lungs also can reduce blood flow to the rest of the body. This can damage other organs, especially the intestines and kidneys.

What Causes Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

The cause of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is not known.

Genetics may play a role. A defect in one or more genes could prevent the ductus arteriosus from closing normally after birth.

PDA is more common in:

• Premature infants (babies born too early)
• Infants with genetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome
• Infants whose mother had German measles (rubella) during pregnancy

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

A heart murmur may be the only sign that a baby has patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during the heartbeat.

Some infants may develop signs or symptoms of volume overload on the heart and excess blood flow in the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:

• Fast breathing, working hard to breathe, or shortness of breath, or in the case of a premature infant, need for increased oxygen or ventilatory support
• Poor feeding and poor weight gain
• Tiring easily
• Sweating with exertion (such as while feeding)

How Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus Diagnosed?

In full-term infants, a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) usually is first suspected when the baby's doctor hears a heart murmur during a regular checkup. If a PDA is large, the infant may also develop symptoms of volume overload and increased blood flow to the lungs. When a PDA is small, it may not be diagnosed until later in childhood. Once a PDA is suspected, a consultation with a pediatric cardiologist will be arranged. A pediatric cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating heart problems in children.

In premature babies (babies born too early) with PDA, the physical signs that are seen in full-term babies, such as heart murmur, may not be present. Doctors may suspect a PDA in premature babies who develop breathing difficulties soon after birth. Doctors use tests such as echocardiography to look for PDA in premature babies with breathing problems.

Tests

Two painless tests are used to diagnose a PDA.

• Echocardiogram. This test, which is harmless and painless, uses sound waves to create a moving picture of your baby's heart. During an echocardiogram, reflected sound waves outline the heart's structure completely. The test allows the doctor to clearly see any problem with the way the heart is formed or the way it's working. An echocardiogram is the most important test available to your baby's cardiologist to both diagnose a heart problem and follow the problem over time. In babies with PDA, the echocardiogram shows how big the ductus is and how well the heart is responding to it. When medical treatments are used to try to close a ductus in premature babies, echocardiograms are used to see how well the treatment is working.
• EKG (electrocardiogram). This test records the electrical activity in the heart. In the case of a PDA, it can show:
  • Enlargement of the heart chambers
  • Other subtle changes that can suggest the presence of a PDA

How Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus Treated?

The goal of treatment is to close the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) to prevent complications and reverse the effects of increased blood volume.

Small PDAs often close without treatment. For full-term infants, treatment is needed if the child's PDA:

• Is large
• Is causing the child to have health problems
• Does not close on its own by the time the child is 1–2 years old

For premature infants (babies born too early), treatment is needed if the PDA is causing increased respiratory distress and heart problems.

Specific Types of Treatment

Treatments for PDA include:

• Medicines
• Catheter-based procedures
• Surgery

Your child's doctor will discuss the treatment options and your family's preferences regarding treatment decisions.

Medicines

Medicines can be given to help close a PDA.

• Indomethacin (in-doh-METH-ah-sin) is a drug that helps close a PDA in premature infants. It does not usually work in full-term infants. It works by stimulating the PDA to constrict or tighten, closing the connection.
• Ibuprofen (EYE-boo-pro-fen) is a medicine in the same family as indomethacin. It is also used frequently to close a PDA in premature infants.

If a PDA is small and the decision is made not to treat it right away, antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent endocarditis.

Catheter-based procedures

Catheters are thin, flexible tubes used in a procedure called cardiac catheterization (KATH-e-ter-i-ZA-shun). Catheter-based procedures are often used to close PDAs in infants or children who are large enough to have the procedure. Your child's doctor may refer to the procedure as "transcatheter device closure." The procedure is sometimes done on small PDAs to prevent the risk of bacterial endocarditis.

During the procedure, your child will be sedated or given general anesthesia so he or she will sleep and not feel any discomfort. The doctor will place a catheter in a large blood vessel in the upper thigh (groin) and guide it to your child's heart.

A small metal coil or other blocking device is passed up through the catheter and placed in the ductus arteriosus to block blood flow through the vessel.

Catheter-based procedures:

• Do not require the child's chest to be opened
• Let the child recover quickly

Closing a PDA using a catheter is often done on an outpatient basis. You will most likely be able to take your child home the same day the procedure is done.

Complications of catheter-based procedures are rare and short term. They can include bleeding, infection, and movement of the blocking device from where it was placed.

Surgery

Surgery for PDA may be performed when:

• A premature or full-term infant develops health problems from the PDA and is too small to have a catheter-based procedure
• A PDA is not successfully closed by a catheter-based procedure
• Surgery is planned for treatment of related congenital heart defects

Surgery often is not performed until after 6 months of age in infants who do not have health problems from the PDA. Doctors sometime perform surgery on small PDAs to prevent the risk of bacterial endocarditis.

The operation is done under general anesthesia so that your child will sleep and not feel any pain. The surgeon will:

• Make a small cut between your child's ribs to reach the PDA
• Close the PDA with stitches or clips

Complications of the surgery are rare and usually short term. They can include hoarseness, a paralyzed diaphragm, infection, bleeding, or fluid buildup around the lungs.

After surgery. After surgery, your child will spend a few days in the hospital. Most children go home 2 days after surgery. While in the hospital, your child will be given medicines to reduce pain or anxiety. The doctors and nurses at the hospital will teach you how to care for your child at home. They will talk to you about:

• Limits on activity for your child while he or she recovers
• Followup appointments with your child's doctors
• How to give your child medicines at home, if needed

When your child goes home after surgery, you can expect that he or she will feel fairly comfortable, although there may be some pain temporarily.

Your child should begin to eat better and gain weight quickly. Within a few weeks, your child should be fully recovered and able to participate in normal activities.

Long-term complications from surgical treatment are rare. They can include narrowing of the aorta, incomplete closure of the ductus arteriosus, and reopening of the ductus arteriosus.

Living With Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Most children are healthy and live normal lives after treatment for a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

If your child was not born prematurely (too early), he or she is expected to have normal activity levels, appetite, and growth after PDA treatment, as long as there are no other congenital heart defects.

If your child was born prematurely, the outlook after PDA treatment depends primarily on other factors, such as:

• How early he or she was born
• Whether he or she has other illnesses or conditions, such as other congenital heart defects

Medical Care Needs

Children who have PDAs are at increased risk for bacterial endocarditis. To prevent this infection, your doctor may give your child antibiotics before medical or dental procedures (such as surgery or dental cleanings) that could allow bacteria into the bloodstream. Talk to you child's doctor about whether your child needs antibiotics before such procedures.

It's important to take good care of your child's teeth. He or she should have regular dental care to prevent decay and help reduce the chance of infection.

Once the PDA is closed, your child will not need antibiotics before dental work or surgical procedures. If the PDA is closed surgically or by catheter and remains completely closed, antibiotics will not be needed after 6 months.

Key Points

• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery after birth. This connection is called the ductus arteriosus, and it is normally present before birth. In most babies, the vessel closes within a few hours to days after birth. In some babies, the ductus arteriosus remains open (patent) after birth.
• PDA is more common in premature infants (babies born too early), but it can happen in full-term infants. It is twice as common in girls as in boys.
• The cause of PDA is not known. Genetics may play a role. PDA can occur in children with otherwise normal hearts or in children born with other heart defects.
• PDA allows too much blood to pump through the lungs, overloading the heart and the lungs. The heart must work harder than usual to pump the extra blood. This can cause the heart to enlarge and fluid to increase in the lungs.
• PDA can lead to poor growth, damage to the arteries in the lungs due to the extra blood flow, and bacterial endocarditis.
• A heart murmur may be the only sign that a baby or child has a PDA.
• Some infants may develop signs and symptoms of a large PDA such as fast breathing, poor feeding and poor weight gain, tiring easily, and sweating.
• Children with a large PDA are usually diagnosed within the first few months of life. Children with a small PDA may not be diagnosed until they are older. Premature infants with PDA may be diagnosed soon after birth.
• The echocardiogram is the test most commonly used to confirm the presence of a PDA.
• Small PDAs sometimes close without treatment. But if a PDA is large or does not close on its own by the time the child is 1–2 years old, it should be repaired. For premature infants, treatment is needed if the PDA is causing increased respiratory distress and heart problems.
• Treatments for PDA include medicine, procedures using catheters, and surgery.
• After closure of a PDA, most children grow normally and live healthy lives.

Links to More Information About Patent Ductus Arteriosus

NHLBI Resources

• Congenital Heart Defects (Diseases and Conditions Index)
• NHLBI-Related Public Interest Organizations

Non-NHLBI Resources

• Congenital Heart Disease (MedlinePlus)
• Patent Ductus Arteriosus (MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pediatric Heart Network

Clinical Trials

• Current Research (ClinicalTrials.gov)