What is patent ductus arteriosus?

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a persistent opening between the two major blood vessels leading from the heart.
The opening (ductus arteriosus) is a normal part of a baby’s circulatory system in the womb that usually closes shortly after birth.
If it remains open, it’s called a patent ductus arteriosus.
A small patent ductus arteriosus often doesn’t cause problems and might never need treatment.
However, a large patent ductus arteriosus left untreated can allow poorly oxygenated blood to flow in the wrong direction, weakening the heart muscle and causing heart failure and other complications.
Treatment options for a patent ductus arteriosus include monitoring, medications, and closure
by cardiac catheterisation or surgery.
Patent ductus arteriosus symptoms vary with the size of the defect and whether the baby is full term or premature.
A small PDA might cause no signs or symptoms and go undetected for some time – even until adulthood.
A large PDA can cause signs of heart failure soon after birth.
Your baby’s doctor might first suspect a heart defect during a regular checkup after hearing a heart murmur.
– Mayo Clinic