• The blood vessel connecting the pulmonary artery (main blood vessel bringing blood to the lungs) to the aorta (main blood vessel bringing blood from the heart to the rest of the body) before a baby is born is called the ductus arteriosus.
• Before birth, it is necessary that this duct be open for fetal circulation. However, post-delivery, the ductus arteriosus usually closes in the first few hours or days in order to transition the baby to neonatal circulation (normal circulation).
• When the ductus arteriosus blood vessel doesn’t close by itself in the expected time period, it is then known as the condition PDA.
• PDA is detected using an ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)
• If the PDA is still open, the doctor may prescribe a medication, like a prostaglandin inhibitor, to close it.
• Rarely the opening will not close despite the medication, and a small operation will be necessary to correct it. While this may sound alarming, PDA is fairly easily corrected.

Reference:

AbbVie Corporation (Ed.). (2015). Preemie Parent Handbook (4th ed.). Canada: AbbVie Corportation.

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