By Alana Olson
Accordingly, almost all of the newborn babies have openings in the ductus arteriosus. This is normal because the ductus arteriosus closes itself along with the baby's growth. The closing takes a very short period of time, around few weeks or months after the baby was born. This is the reason why the symptoms of this birth defect may only be noticeable after a certain period of time. When after weeks and months and your baby starts to show the symptoms of PDA, it is best that you take your baby to the doctor immediately for the diagnosis of PDA and for treatments for patent ductus arteriosus.
Babies with this condition are not really required to undergo treatments for patent ductus srteriosus because the ductus arteriosus of any person closes by itself. However, to babies and children with relatively larger openings in the ducuts arteriosus, a medical treatment or to some cases surgical operation may be needed.
While there are telltales that treatments for patent ductus arteriosus are not really needed, there are still main reasons to do it. One reason is for patients with large openings in ductus arteriosus, blood is directed to the lungs and this is a major cause of heart enlargement not in the present but at a later time and when this happens, treatments may be more complicated. Another reason why a treatment is necessary is that the spread of infection, a major cause of endocarditis is prevented.
Medically, there are three treatments for PDA. One is the medication which requires the use of indomethacin. It is not really recommended to patients who are very young and are still infants but there are some cases when doctors require this. Taking this drug, the wall muscles are constricted to close the opening of the ductus areriosus. Another treatment is the need for trans-catheter procedure. In this method, a small tube or the catheter is inserted in the groin area of the body and this small tube is used to obstruct the passageway in the ductus arteriosus. This method is always used to treat babies with small openings in the ductus arteriosus. The last treatment which is optional is the medical surgery. This treatment is required to patients whose ductus arteriosus does not close by itself and that these patients show a very long term symptoms of the birth defect. This is the process of repairing the PDA opening.
Although the above treatments for PDA may sound complicated, you have to be open to the possibilities and chances for recovery. The complications PDA bring are even more complicated so start while the symptoms are not yet severe. Consult your baby's pediatrician and ask for the treatment options your baby needs.