Closure of patent ductus arteriosus
Freda Cole Sister, Department of Radiology, Guy's Hospital, London
Freda Cole describes the success of non-surgical duct occlusion
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), or patent arterial duct as it is more commonly known, is a communication between the pulmonary artery and the descending thoracic aorta (Fig. 1). This small communicating vessel is an essential feature of the fetal circulation which will normally close spontaneously after birth. In some babies the duct fails to close, resulting in blood from a high- pressure vessel, the aorta, being shunted into a low-pressure vessel, the pulmonary artery. If uncorrected, congestive heart failure could develop with a high risk of infective endarteritis.
Nursing Standard.
6, 18, 54-55.
doi: 10.7748/ns.6.18.54.s60
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