PATENT DUCTUS

ARTERIOSUS

Dr. Amuda
Dr. Uwanduduru
Dr. Okon
Definition

• Patent ductus arteriosus, the most common type of

extracardiac shunt, represents persistent patency of the
vessel that normally connects the pulmonary arterial
system and the aorta in a fetus.
Incidence
• PDA occurs in approximately 1 of 2,000 live births,
but it is relatively uncommon among the adult
population.
• In infants, it accounts for 10% to 12% of all
congenital heart disease
• PDAs are twice as common in female infants as in
male infants
• In rubella syndrome males & females are
affected equally
Risk factors
• Maternal rubella infection
• Birth at high altitude
• Premature birth
• Female sex, and
• Genetic factors

• In infants born at < 28 weeks of gestation, there is a

60% incidence of PDA
 Embryology

• The ductus arteriosus is a normal and essential component of

cardiovascular development that originates from the distal
sixth left aortic arch.
• A PDA is most commonly funnel shaped with the larger aortic
end (ampulla) distal to the left subclavian artery, then
narrowing toward the pulmonary end, with insertion at the
junction of the main and left pulmonary arteries
Fetal circulation
• The presence of the ductus
arteriosus in the fetal circulation is
essential to allow right-to-left
shunting of nutrient-rich,
oxygenated blood from the
placenta to the fetal systemic
circulation, thereby bypassing the
fetal pulmonary circuit

• In the fetus, the ductus arteriosus

is kept open by
Low arterial oxygen content
and
Placental prostaglandin E2
(PGE2)
 Birth
• Several changes occur at birth to initiate normal
functional closure of the ductus arteriosus within the
first 15 to 18 hours of life.
• Spontaneous respirations result in increased blood
oxygen content.
• Prostaglandin levels decrease because of placental
ligation and increased metabolism of prostaglandins
within the pulmonary circulation by prostaglandin
dehydrogenase.
• Generally, the ductus arteriosus is hemodynamically
insignificant within 15 hours and completely closed by
2 to 3 weeks
Classification
Isolated PDAs, are often categorized according to the degree of
left-to-right shunting, which is determined by both the size and
length of the duct and the difference between systemic and
pulmonary vascular resistance, as follows:

• Silent: tiny PDA detected only by nonclinical means (usually

echocardiography)
• Small: continuous murmur common; Qp/Qs <1.5
• Moderate: continuous murmur common; Qp/Qs 1.5 to 2.2
• Large: continuous murmur present; Qp/Qs >2.2
• Eisenmenger: continuous murmur absent; substantial
pulmonary hypertension, differential hypoxemia, and
differential cyanosis (pink fingers, blue toes)
The Krichenko classification system
Natural History
• Unlike PDA in premature infants, spontaneous closure
of a PDA is rare in full-term infants and children.
• This is because the PDA in term infants results from a
structural abnormality of the ductal smooth muscle
rather than a decreased responsiveness of the ductal
smooth muscle to oxygen.
• CHF or recurrent pneumonia develops if the shunt is
large.
• Pulmonary vascular obstructive disease may develop if
a large PDA with pulmonary hypertension is left
untreated.
• Although rare, an aneurysm of PDA may develop and
possibly rupture in adult life.
Clinical Manifestations
History
• The history of the mother’s pregnancy and of
perinatal events may provide clues associated with
a high incidence of PDA, such as exposure to
rubella in the first trimester in a non immunized
mother.
• PDA is also more common in premature infants,
especially those with birth asphyxia or respiratory
distress
 Symptom
•sSeverity of symptoms depends on the degree of left-to-
right shunting; and it is determined by the size of the
PDA, ductal resistance, cardiac output, as well as the
systemic and pulmonary vascular resistances.
• Patients with small PDA are asymptomatic.
• With larger PDAs, symptoms may develop.
• The most common symptom is exercise intolerance
followed by dyspnea, peripheral edema, and
palpitations.
Sign
s• Tachycardia and tachypnea may be present in
infants with CHF.
• Bounding peripheral pulses
• Wide pulse pressure
• Hyperactive precordium: With a large shunt
• Systolic thrill: may be present at the upper left
sternal border.
• The P2 is usually normal, but its intensity may be
accentuated if pulmonary hypertension is present.
• A grade 1 to 4 of 6 continuous (“machinery”) murmur is best
audible at the left infraclavicular area or upper left sternal
border.
• An apical diastolic rumble may be heard when the PDA shunt
is large.
• Patients with small ductus do not have the above findings.
• The duration of the diastolic murmur reflects
pulmonary artery pressures; elevated pulmonary
artery pressures lead to a decreased gradient for
left-to-right flow through the PDA during diastole,
which results in a shorter diastolic murmur.
• As pulmonary pressure increases, the systolic
component of the murmur shortens.
• Right-to-left flow may not generate a systolic
murmur.
• Differential cyanosis: If pulmonary vascular
obstructive disease develops, a right-to-left ductal
shunt results in cyanosis only in the lower half of
the body.
Investigation
ECG
• With a small shunt the ECG is normal.
• Left ventricular hypertrophy of the volume
overload type, with deep Q waves and increased R-
wave voltage in the left precordial leads, is noted
with increasing shunt size with left ventricular
volume overload.
• Right ventricular hypertrophy is seen with
pulmonary hypertension.
 CXR
• Chest radiographs may be normal with a small-shunt
PDA.
• Cardiomegaly of varying degrees occurs in moderate-
to large-shunt PDA with enlargement of the LA, LV, and
ascending aorta.
• Pulmonary vascular markings are increased.
• With pulmonary vascular obstructive disease, the
heart size becomes normal, with a marked
prominence of the PA segment and hilar vessels.
CXR P/A view of a 2-day-old infant demonstrating the
ductus bump (arrow).
Echocardiogram
TTE has a 42% sensitivity and 100% specificity for the
diagnosis of PDA.
• On 2-D echo, the left-sided chambers (LA and LV)
are dilated due to increased venous return from
the pulmonary circulation.
• This constitutes left ventricular volume overload.
• Due to dilatation of left atrium, the ratio between
size of the left atrium and proximal aorta (LA : Ao
ratio) exceeds 1.3.
 Echocardiogram in parasternal
Parasternal long axis showing LA
short axis demonstrating a patent
and left ventricular
ductus arteriosus with color-flow
enlargement
mapping indicating reversed flow
Continuous wave Doppler
echocardiogram positioned
through the PDA, showing
retrograde flow throughout the
cardiac cycle
Pulsed-Doppler echocardiogram
shows increased diastolic
flow in the branch pulmonary
artery
Cardiac Catheterization

Catheter trajectory:
• Catheter may easily pass
from PA to Ao through
the PDA.
• It gives a specific
appearance “Hair pin”
appearance.
• Oxymetry:
Steps up of O2 saturation in PA in comparison to RA.

• Pressure study:
RV & PA pressure is normal, but elevated in large PDA.
PVR is normal in infant & children but elevated in adult.

• LV graphy: to see associated VSD

• Aortography: to see PDA & associated CoA

MRI & CT
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed
tomography may be useful in defining the anatomy
in patients with unusual PDA geometry and in
patients with associated abnormalities of the aortic
arch.
Management
Medica
lPharmacological closure of duct:
• For premature infants, treatment with indomethacin is
usually the first-line therapy (0.2 mg/kg intravenously
every 12 hours for up to three doses).
• Indomethacin therapy has been associated with an
increased bleeding tendency resulting from platelet
dysfunction, decreased urine output secondary to renal
dysfunction, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Ibuprofen has achieved closure rates equivalent to those of
indomethacin with less renal toxicity.
Secondary measures:
• Prophylaxis against IE
• Treatment of HF
ACC/AHA 2008 Guidelines for the Management of
Adults With Congenital Heart Disease
Class I Recommendations for Closure of Patent Ducts Arteriosus
1. Closure of a PDA either percutaneously or surgically is indicated
for the following:
a. Left atrial and/or LV enlargement or if PAH is present, or in
the presence of net left-to-right shunting
b. Prior endarteritis
2. Consultation with ACHD interventional cardiologists is
recommended before surgical closure is selected as the method
of repair for patients with a calcified PDA.
3. Surgical repair by a surgeon experienced in CHD surgery is
recommended when:
a. The PDA is too large for device closure.
b. Distorted ductal anatomy precludes device closure (eg,
aneurysm or endarteritis).
Nonsurgical Closure
• Since the early 1990s,
transcatheter techniques have
become the first-line therapy
for most PDAs.
• Complications: Rare.
• The most common
complication is embolization of
the coil or device.
• Percutaneous coils were
developed in 1992 and are the
preferred treatment for older Duct-Occlud coil
children and adults with PDAs
< 3.5 mm in diameter
 Amplatzer Ductal Occluder
• The ADO, a cone-shaped plug occluder made of
thrombogenic wire mesh delivered with a 5F to 7F
venous system, is the preferred device for
percutaneous closure of moderate to large PDAs.
• The ADO stents the PDA, and blood is forced to flow
through the center of the device, which is lined with
thrombogenic wire mesh.
• The PDA then essentially clots off.
• Advantages include simple implantation, ability to
retract the ADO into the sheath and redeploy if
needed, and high success rates.
• There is an 89% occlusion rate on post procedure day 1
and 97% to 100% complete occlusion after 1month
Amplatzer ADO I Amplatzer ADO II
Lateral angiogram showing coil occlusion of a patent ductus
arteriosus (PDA).
A. Small PDA allows shunting from descending aorta to
pulmonary artery (arrow).
B. Shunting is eliminated by an Amplatzer ductal occluder
device placed in the ductus arteriosus (arrow).
Surgical Closure
• In 1938, the first successful closure of a PDA was performed,
which was the first repair of a congenital heart defect.
• With continued advances in percutaneous closure devices,
surgery has become second-line therapy for most adults with
PDAs
Procedure:
1. Ligation and division through left posterolateral
thoracotomy without cardiopulmonary bypass is the
standard procedure.
2. The technique of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
(VATS) clip ligation has become the standard of care for
surgical management of ductus with adequate length (to
allow safe ligation), which is performed through three
small ports in the fourth intercostal space.
Mortality:
• The surgical mortality rate is <1% for both
techniques.

Complications:
• Injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve
(hoarseness)
• The left phrenic nerve (paralysis of the left
hemidiaphragm)
• The thoracic duct (chylothorax) is possible.
• Recanalization (reopening) of the ductus is possible,
although rare, occurring after ligation alone (without
division).
Complications of PDA
The most common complications of PDA include
• CHF
• Infective endocarditis
• Pulmonary hypertension
Differential diagnosis
• VSD associated with aortic insufficiency
• Aortopulmonary window
• Pulmonary atresia with systemic collateral vessels
• Innocent venous hum
• Arteriovenous communications such as
• pulmonary arteriovenous fistula
• coronary artery fistula
• systemic arteriovenous fistula
• Ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm
Reproductive Issues
• Pregnancy is well tolerated in women with silent
and small PDAs and in patients who were
asymptomatic before pregnancy.
• In women with a hemodynamically important PDA,
pregnancy may precipitate or worsen heart failure.
• Pregnancy is contraindicated in those with
Eisenmenger syndrome because of the high
maternal (≈50%) and fetal (≈60%) mortality.
 References
●
Frank Netter Atlas of Human Anatomy
●
Schwartz Principles of Surgery
●
SRB’s manual of surgery
●
https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/891096-overview#:~:t
ext=The%20Krichenko%20classification%20of%20PDA%20is
%20based%20on,anatomy%20of%20the%20ductus%20may%
20not%20be%20present
●
https://radiopaedia.org/cases/krichenko-angiographic-
classification-of-patent-ductus-arteriosus-illustration?lang=us
Thank you