Which statement about PDA is false?

Which statement about PDA is false?

• A. It is common among premature infants with IRDS.
• B. Blood can flow from the aorta into the pulmonary arteries.
• C. CVP and PAP are increased.
• D. It is a condition that closes immediately after birth.

Answer: (D)

Patent ductus arteriosus is a persistent connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery after birth. In premature infants, especially those with IRDS, the ductus often remains open because the vessels are immature and prostaglandin levels stay high, preventing normal constriction. The shunt is left-to-right, so blood from the aorta enters the pulmonary arteries, increasing pulmonary blood flow and, with significant shunting, pulmonary artery pressures. The increased flow returns to the left heart, raising preload, and can lead to systemic perfusion issues and signs of congestive physiology; central venous pressure can be elevated with larger shunts due to overall volume overload. The statement that closes immediately after birth is false because closure begins with rising oxygen tension and falling prostaglandins, but in preterm infants this process is often delayed and may require treatment. A, B, and C describe common features of PDA in this context, whereas D does not.

Patent ductus arteriosus is a persistent connection between the aorta and the pulmonary artery after birth. In premature infants, especially those with IRDS, the ductus often remains open because the vessels are immature and prostaglandin levels stay high, preventing normal constriction. The shunt is left-to-right, so blood from the aorta enters the pulmonary arteries, increasing pulmonary blood flow and, with significant shunting, pulmonary artery pressures. The increased flow returns to the left heart, raising preload, and can lead to systemic perfusion issues and signs of congestive physiology; central venous pressure can be elevated with larger shunts due to overall volume overload.

The statement that closes immediately after birth is false because closure begins with rising oxygen tension and falling prostaglandins, but in preterm infants this process is often delayed and may require treatment. A, B, and C describe common features of PDA in this context, whereas D does not.