The nurse is caring for a newborn with patent ductus arteriosus. Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?

Question

The nurse is caring for a newborn with patent ductus arteriosus.  Which assessment finding should the nurse expect?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecbb05_ca99_cbd2_b433_dba1d73c96b5_MD0009_00 Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is an acyanotic congenital defect more common in premature infants. When fetal circulation changes to pulmonary circulation outside the womb, the ductus arteriosus should close spontaneously. This closure is caused by increased oxygenation after birth. If a PDA is present, blood will shunt from the aorta back to the pulmonary arteries via the opened ductus arteriosus. Many newborns are asymptomatic except for a loud, machine-like systolic and diastolic murmur. The PDA will be treated with surgical ligation or IV indomethacin to stimulate duct closure. (Option A) A harsh systolic murmur is heard in the setting of ventricular septal defect, an opening between the ventricles of the heart. Ventricular septal defect is an acyanotic defect. (Option C) A diastolic murmur is heard in mitral stenosis and aortic regurgitation but not in PDA. (Option D) A systolic ejection murmur is heard in pulmonic stenosis. Right ventricular hypertrophy will develop if this defect is not repaired. In adults, systolic ejection murmur is usually due to aortic stenosis. Educational objective: The ductus arteriosus of a newborn should close spontaneously when fetal circulation changes to pulmonary circulation. If the ductus arteriosus remains open, blood will shunt from the aorta to the pulmonary arteries. The child will be acyanotic but will have a machine-like murmur heard on both systole and diastole.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Newborn with Patent Ductus