A 2-week-old infant presents with poor feeding, fatigue, dyspnea, and a murmur. She is diagnosed with a patent ductus arteriosus. This condition results in a(n):
A) decreased pulmonary blood flow.
B) right-to-left shunt.
C) left-to-right shunt.
D) increased systemic blood flow.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a condition where the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel that normally closes shortly after birth, remains open. This results in a left-to-right shunt of blood from the aorta to the pulmonary artery, leading to increased pulmonary blood flow, which can cause symptoms such as dyspnea, poor feeding, and fatigue. The murmur is caused by increased blood flow through the PDA. The shunt does not cause a right-to-left or decreased pulmonary blood flow, nor does it directly increase systemic blood flow.

A 2-Week-Old Infant Presents with Poor Feeding, Fatigue, Dyspnea, and a Murmur