The premature baby with a PDA
The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that links the pulmonary artery to the aorta when the baby is in its mother’s womb. In babies born at full term, this blood vessel closes off shortly after birth and withers away.

In premature babies however, this blood vessel sometimes remains open, so that blood continues to flow between the aorta and the pulmonary artery even after birth. This condition is called patent ductus arteriosus (‘patent’ here is a medical term meaning ‘open’), and can affect the baby’s circulation of blood to its lungs and other organs.

The diagnosis is established by an ultrasound scan of the baby’s heart.

If the baby appears to be healthy and happy and not bothered by the PDA, it is generally OK to just wait until the PDA closes by itself. But if the PDA is causing the baby problems, it can be closed either by medication or surgery.

The following contains more detailed information.