When is PDA life saving?

Over the first several hours to days of postnatal life, the PDA closes spontaneously and is completely closed in most infants by 2 to 3 weeks of age. In the absence of other congenital cardiac lesions, a PDA becomes pathologic related to its presence and the degree of left-to-right shunting.

What is persistent arterial duct?

Patent arterial duct (PAD) is a congenital heart abnormality defined as persistent patency in term infants older than three months. Isolated PAD is found in around 1 in 2000 full term infants. A higher prevalence is found in preterm infants, especially those with low birth weight.

What is the arterial canal?

The temporary channel or blood vessel between the aorta and pulmonary artery in the fetus.

What is persistent truncus arteriosus?

Persistent truncus arteriosus (TA) is a rare, congenital, cyanotic heart defect characterized by a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a single truncal valve, and a common ventricular outflow tract (OT).

Why is PDA common in preterm infants?

PDA is a heart defect found in the days or weeks after birth. It occurs because a normal fetal connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery does not close as it should after birth. PDA happens most often in premature infants. It often occurs with other congenital heart defects.

What are the consequences of PDA?

A large patent ductus arteriosus can lead to Eisenmenger syndrome, an irreversible type of pulmonary hypertension. Heart failure. A patent ductus arteriosus can eventually cause the heart to enlarge and weaken, leading to heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart can’t pump effectively.

What is the purpose of the arterial duct?

During development, the arterial duct allows oxygenated blood to bypass the pulmonary circulation, since the lungs are not involved in oxygenation and enter directly into systemic circulation. After birth, the arterial duct closes via a complex biphasic process and becomes the ‘ligamentum arteriosum’ [4].

How long can you live with truncus arteriosus?

Conclusions: Ten- to 20-year survival and functional status are excellent among infants undergoing complete repair of truncus arteriosus.

Can you live with truncus arteriosus?

Truncus arteriosus in adults In rare cases, a person with truncus arteriosus can survive infancy without surgical repair of the heart and live into adulthood. However, people with this condition will almost certainly develop heart failure and pulmonary hypertension (Eisenmenger syndrome).