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Patent ductus arteriosus is a congenital illness, occurring therefore from the child's birth, corresponding to the patent of a ductus arteriosusbetween the pulmonary artery (stemming from the right ventricle) and the aorta (stemming from the left ventricle). There is an excessive volume for the left ventricle since an excessive volume passes through a normal aortic opening.
They especially occur from the child’s birth but can also express in the early childhood. Symptoms associate a shortening o breath, respiratory difficulties with possible episodes of apnoea and a decrease of the cardiac frequency (bradycardy).
During the clinical exam, the physician reports a murmur of the vessel situated under the left clavicle. - The electrocardiogram shows signs of overweight of the left ventricle, - The pulmonary x-ray shows signs of left ventricular hypertrophy, which is the main sign, - The echocardiography easily underlines the ductus arteriosus, measures the pulmonary and aortic outputs, and the degree of pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The surgical indication is formal because the risks of an infective endocarditis
and a cardiac insufficiency are important. Closing is achieved directly
by introducing the device into the ductusarteriosus and
implanting a double ”endovenous patch”.
File last reviewed on dec 18, 2011 |
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