Preterm patent ductus arteriosus: what the research tells us

Abstract

Abstract Ductus arteriosus is a fetal blood vessel that connects two elastic arteries, pulmonary artery and aorta, with different resistances. It only becomes pathological if it fails to close after birth. The clinical features of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) depend upon the gestation at birth, severity of lung disease and the postnatal age of the newborn. In premature infants, PDA is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. However, the current literature on treatment of PDA does not report any improvement in long-term neonatal outcomes. This could be due to the high contamination rates in clinical trials due to the open treatment of PDA in the study groups, the heterogeneous population and changes in neonatal care including improvement in perinatal care. This article discusses the evidence base for management of PDA.