PDA Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Know the Symptoms and Causes

Do Parents Know What PDA Is? PDA ispatent ductus arteriosus or a condition where there are extra blood vessels in the baby before and after birth. This condition requires special examination and treatment because it can cause more serious problems.

To find out what PDA is, its symptoms, causes, and treatment, see more information here.

PDA Is Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Babies

Quoting fromMayo Clinic,pA congenital ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a continuous opening between two major blood vessels leading from the heart.

Opening (ductus arteriosus) is actually a normal part of the baby’s circulatory system in the womb that usually closes soon after birth. If it remains open, it is calledpattenuated ductus arteriosus (PDA).

During fetal development (before a baby is born), very little blood flows to the baby’s lungs. Instead, most blood passes through the baby’s lungs. 

When a baby has a PDA, the ductus arteriosus does not close properly because a small hole remains. This opening allows extra blood from the aorta to enter the baby’s pulmonary artery. Depending on the size of this blood vessel, the baby’s heart and lungs may have to work harder to pump blood.

Small PDAs often don’t cause problems and may not require treatment. However, large, untreated PDAs can cause oxygen-poor blood to flow in the wrong direction, weakening the heart muscle and leading to heart failure and other complications.

Treatment options for PDA include monitoring, medications, and closure with cardiac catheterization or surgery.

What Happens to Patent Ductus Arteriosus ?

The ductus arteriosus is a normal blood vessel that connects the two main arteries, the aorta and the pulmonary artery, which carry blood away from the heart.

Diagramclose upheart withpatent ductus arteriosus— a connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery coming from the heart. This connection is a normal part of a baby’s circulatory system in the womb, but usually closes soon after birth.

Lung function does not work while the fetus is in the womb because the baby gets oxygen directly from the mother’s placenta. The ductus arteriosus carries blood from the lungs and sends it directly to the body.

Once a newborn is breathing and begins to use its lungs, the ductus is no longer needed and usually closes on its own within the first 2 days after birth.

If the ductus does not close, the result is a patent (meaning “open”) ductus arteriosus. A PDA allows oxygen-rich blood (blood high in oxygen) from the aorta to mix with oxygen-poor blood in the pulmonary artery. As a result, too much blood flows to the lungs, which puts stress on the heart and increases blood pressure in the pulmonary artery.

Sometimes, babies are born with certain heart problems that reduce blood flow from the heart to the lungs or reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the body. In those cases, a PDA can actually help, and doctors may prescribe medication to keep the ductus arteriosus open.

PDA Symptoms

Symptoms of a PDA can vary with its size, as well as whether the baby is full-term or premature. Smaller PDAs may not cause any signs or symptoms, and may go undetected for some time, even into adulthood. Larger PDAs may cause signs of heart failure soon after birth.

A doctor may suspect a heart defect during a routine exam after hearing a heart murmur while listening to the baby’s heart through a stethoscope.

A large PDA discovered during infancy or childhood can cause:

• Poor appetite, which causes poor growth
• Sweating and crying while eating
• Persistent rapid breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Easily tired
• Rapid heartbeat
• Poor weight gain or growth

Reason

Researchers don’t know for sure what causes this condition. Causes of patent ductus arteriosus may include genetic abnormalities or a family history of the condition.

Before birth, a hole connecting the two main blood vessels leading from the heart – the aorta and the pulmonary artery – is necessary for the baby’s blood circulation. The connection diverts blood from the baby’s lungs as they develop, and the baby receives oxygen from the mother’s circulation.

After birth, the ductus arteriosus usually closes within two or three days. In premature babies, the opening often takes longer to close. If the connection remains open, it is referred to as a patent ductus arteriosus.

The abnormal opening allows too much blood to flow into the baby’s lungs and heart. If left untreated, blood pressure in the baby’s lungs can increase (pulmonary hypertension) and the baby’s heart can enlarge and weaken.

Other causes of PDA may include:

• German measles during pregnancy: Babies born to mothers who had rubella (German measles) during pregnancy may have a higher risk of PDA.
• Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: Babies whose lungs don’t get enough lubricating substance (surfactant) before birth can develop neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, a breathing problem . These babies can also develop PDA.

Frequency of Occurrence

Patent ductus arteriosus , or PDA, is the most common heart condition in newborns. Healthcare providers diagnose the condition more often in premature babies. The risk increases the earlier the baby is born.

PDA occurs around:

• 10% of babies born between 30 and 37 weeks of pregnancy.
• 80% of babies are born between 25 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.
• 90% of babies are born earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for having a patent ductus arteriosus include:

• Premature birth. Patent ductus arteriosus is more common in babies born too early than in babies born at full term.
• Family history and other genetic conditions. Family history of heart disease and other genetic conditions, such asdown, increasing the risk of having a PDA.
• Rubella infection during pregnancy. If you get German measles (rubella) during pregnancy, your baby is at increased risk of heart defects. The rubella virus crosses the placenta and spreads through your baby’s circulatory system, damaging blood vessels and organs, including the heart.
• Being born at high altitudes. Babies born above 8,200 feet (2,499 meters) have a greater risk of PDA than babies born at low altitudes.
• Female gender. PDA is twice as common in girls.

Diagnosis

If you notice symptoms of PDA in your baby, tell your doctor. Your doctor may hear a PDA heart murmur during a well-baby visit or physical exam.

If your doctor suspects a PDA, they may recommend a referral to a specialist, a pediatric cardiologist. A pediatric cardiologist may order certain tests, including:

• Chest X-ray.
• Echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). In babies with a PDA, the echo shows how big the opening is and how well the heart is handling it.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG). A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart and can show whether the heart is enlarged.
• Blood test.

Handling

The three treatment options for a PDA are medications, catheter-based procedures, and surgery. A doctor will close a PDA if the hole is large enough that the lungs can become overloaded with blood, a condition that can cause the heart to enlarge.

A doctor may also close the PDA to reduce the risk of developing a heart infection known as endocarditis, which affects the tissue lining the heart and blood vessels. Endocarditis is serious and requires treatment with intravenous (IV) antibiotics.

Prevention

There is no surefire way to prevent a baby with PDA. However, it is important to do everything possible to have a healthy pregnancy. Here are some precautions:

1. Maintaining Health During Pregnancy

Seek prenatal care early, even before you get pregnant. Quitting smoking, reducing stress, stopping birth control, these are all things you should talk to your doctor about before you get pregnant. Also discuss any medications you are taking.

2. Eat Healthy Food 

Include a vitamin supplement containing folic acid.

3. Regular exercise

Work with your doctor to develop an exercise plan that’s right for you.

4. Avoid Risks

This includes harmful substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal drugs. Also avoidhot tuband sauna.

5. Avoid Infection

Update your vaccinations before getting pregnant. Certain types of infections can be harmful to a developing baby.

6. Keep Diabetes Under Control 

If you have diabetes, consult your doctor to manage your condition before and during pregnancy.

If you have a family history of heart disease or other genetic disorders , consider talking to a genetic counselor before getting pregnant.

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That’s the information about PDA in babies. Hopefully this information is useful!

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia