The ductus arteriosus is one of the regular parts of a baby that circulates blood before the baby takes birth. However, it’s also called an extra blood vessel that connects two arteries one is the pulmonary artery, and the other is the aorta. Both these arteries deliver essential functions by circulating blood to the body and the lungs.
Before the baby takes birth, this ductus arteriosus helps bypass blood through the lungs, because of which the baby in the mother’s womb gets oxygen from the mother. Now, when the baby takes birth, it is true that the umbilical cord is cut, and the baby’s lungs have to supply oxygen to the body. In this process, when the lungs expand, the blood vessels relax themselves to get more blood. The ductus arteriosus closes in the first hours of life.
But when this ductus arteriosus doesn’t close on its own, this situation is called PDA. The best cardiologists in Chandigarh suggest that this problem is mainly found in premature babies but sometimes appears in a full-term infant, also.
How common is PDA?
PDA is one of the common heart issues in newborns; the best cardiologist in Chandigarh diagnoses this condition frequently in premature babies. But there is a high risk if the baby is born before time.
- 10% of babies born between 30 and 37 weeks of pregnancy
- 80% of babies born between 25 and 28 weeks of pregnancy
- 90% of babies born earlier than 24 weeks of pregnancy
How is PDA treated?
The healthcare provider will first ask about various symptoms of the baby and also check their health history. After that, they go for a physical examination in which they will check their heartbeat and many more things. Next, the baby is sent to a pediatric cardiologist to treat this condition. Moreover, the baby will undergo some of the tests, like chest X-ray, echo, ECG, and catheterization.
But the whole treatment depends upon the baby’s age, symptoms, and, most essentially, general health. Depending upon the signs, the doctor will decide whether the problem can be treated with medication, cardiac catheterization, or surgery.
