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Patent ductus arteriosus

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Definition:

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition where the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that allows blood to bypass the baby's lungs before birth, fails to normally close after birth. The word "patent" means open.

Alternative Names:

PDA

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

PDA occurs in about 1 in 2,000 infants. Premature infants and those with respiratory distress syndrome are at higher risk. PDA is also associated with coarctation of the aorta, transposition of the great vessels, and ventricular septal defect.

• Review Date: 6/27/2006
• Reviewed By: Anne J. L. Chun, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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