Definition:
Patent ductus arteriosus is heart defect evident upon birth. The condition manifests when the ductus arteriosus of the child's heart fails to close right after birth.
Diagnosis:
Patent ductus arteriosus is often diagnosed using the non-invasive techniques available. It is usually done by Echocardiography using sound waves to capture the motion and activity of the heart accompanied with studies using the Doppler. A chest X-ray may also be taken to reveal overall size of the infant's heart as well as the appearance of the blood flowing to the lungs.
Treatment:
Infants manifesting symptoms which are not adverse or not so serious may be observed and monitored at home. Symptomatic Patent ductus asteriosus are treated using non-surgical or surgical methods or even both.
Symptoms and Signs:
Symptoms of Patent ductus are not common but during the first year of the child's life, the child will manifest uneasy breathing making the child work harder to cope up. The child will have poor weight gain. Other common symptoms also include tachycardia or other arrhythmia, some respiratory problems, shortness of breath, continuous machine-like murmur when breathing, and an enlarged heart.
Causes:
The cause of the disorder is traced back to the improper development of the fetus heart and is often seen only after birth when the ductus arteriosus of heart did not close after birth.
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