Patent Ductus Arteriosus and your Child

In this guide, we’ll discuss what exactly Patent Ductus Arteriosus is, what the symptoms and treatments are and how your child can grow to live a healthy life. 

Key Points:

• Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a congenital heart defect, meaning it is present at birth.
• The condition affects the blood vessel that connects the aorta and pulmonary arteries, causing it to stay open after birth. 

What is Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels that lead away from the heart.

The Ductus Arteriosus is a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta. This connection is present in all babies in the womb, but it should close shortly after birth. 

In some babies, especially those born prematurely, this vessel can remain open. This is the PDA. 

When the baby is in the womb, the mothers placenta provides oxygen for the baby and the Ductus Arteriosus allows blood to bypass the lungs. 

Once the baby is born, they will use their lungs to take in the oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide. To achieve this, the blood flows through the lungs and the Ductus Arteriosus closes shortly after birth. 

However, in some babies it can remain open or even re-open shortly after birth.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus is usually detected through a heart murmur when the doctor is examining the baby. Once this murmur is detected, PDA can be diagnosed through a variety of tests including:

• Echocardiogram – This test uses sound waves to create pictures of the heart, including blood vessels and arteries.

• Chest X-ray – This test shows the condition of the heart and the lungs.

• Electrocardiogram – This is a quick and simple test that records the electrical signals in the heart, showing how fast or slowly the heart is beating.

• Cardiac catheterisation – This test isn’t usually needed to diagnose PDA, however, it might be conducted if the PDA occurs with another congenital heart defect. 

The treatment for Patent Ductus Arteriosus will depend on the age of the child and the severity of the condition. Children with a small PDA that doesn’t cause any issues may only need regular health check-ups to make sure there aren’t any complications.  

Medication

Some children may be given medicine to treat the Patent Ductus Arteriosus. They work by blocking the chemical that keeps the PDA open. However, these medications won’t work to close the PDA in full-term babies, children or adults. 

Surgery and other procedures 

Thanks to advancement in medicine, there are now surgeries to close the Patent Ductus Arteriosus, including:

• Cathertisation – Using a thin tube, or catheter, this treatment allows repair to be done without open-heart surgery. During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and is guided to the heart. A plug or coil is passed through the catheter and closes the Ductus Arteriosus.

• Open Heart Surgery – If the PDA is too large for medicine or catheterisation does not work, then open heart surgery may be required. It usually takes a few weeks for a child to recover from this surgery.

If a Patent Ductus Arteriosus is not treated early on, then it can cause issues later on in life and may cause heart complications as your child grows into adulthood. 

Some problems that can occur include:

• Pulmonary hypertension
• Heart failure
• Endorcarditis
• Eisenmenger syndrome 

However, thanks to readily available treatments, children and babies who have PDA can go on to live healthy and normal lives, just like others their age. 

What happens as your child grows up after having Patent Ductus Arteriosus?

After having successful treatment for Patent Ductus Arteriosus, most children will go on to live happy, healthy and active lives without restrictions. 

Your child may need to have regular check-ups with their healthcare provider to monitor their heart and lungs for any changes. As they transition into adulthood, these checkups will likely need to continue to help ensure they are staying as healthy as possible. 

At Lagan’s Foundation, we provide specialist respite care and short break services for children with congenital heart defects. 

We know how hard it can be for parents and carers, which is why we offer individual and flexible care services to families who have children with congenital heart defects. Not only does this ensure your child gets the best care and support they need, but it gives you a well deserved break.

If you think your child and family could benefit from respite care or short break services, get in touch with our team today to see how we can help.