PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS

This chapter discusses the symptoms, treatment options, complications and recommendations of the disease, patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital cardiovascular disorder that occurs as a result of failure of vascular smooth muscle development within the fetal ductus arteriosus. The majority of untreated dogs succumb to cardiac-related death within 1 year of diagnosis. Surgical ligation has traditionally been a successful method of PDA occlusion. However, ligation has been associated with patient mortality, complications, and residual flow. The primary procedural related concerns with PDA occlusion by Amplatz Canine Ductal Occluder (ACDO) include device infection, device embolization, and femoral arterial hemorrhage. The presence of a PDA is often suspected when the characteristic continuous heart murmur is heard over the left heart base. The PDA is visualized from the left cranial parasternal view for assessment of ductal morphology and measurement of the ductal ostium diameter.