Preterm Infants: Interventions for Persisting Ductus Arteriosus

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a medical condition, wherein the ductus arteriosus blood vessel fails to close after birth. This causes a portion of oxygenated blood from the left heart to flow back to the lungs by flowing through the aorta (which has a higher pressure) to the pulmonary artery. Symptoms become visible towards the end of the first year of life. The common symptoms of PDA include dyspnea (shortness of breath), failure to gain weight at a normal rate, cardiomegaly, and tachycardia. If PDA is not treated at the appropriate time, it may lead to pulmonary hypertension followed by right-sided heart failure. The diagnosis is performed using non-invasive techniques such as echocardiography and chest X-ray. The administration of intravenous indomethacin on the first day of life to all preterm infants lowers the risk of infants developing PDA and the complications associated with PDA. The treatment of this disease comprises both surgical and non-surgical methods. This book includes a detailed explanation of the various interventions for persisting ductus arteriosus. It will provide comprehensive knowledge to the readers.