Patent ductus arteriosus

Patients require monitoring until definitive closure is achieved. Generally, they are followed by a paediatric cardiologist with serial echos. In infants this is often done fairly regularly at 3-month intervals. In older children, follow-up is less frequent (and often closure is scheduled before a follow-up visit). After closure, most patients are seen for follow-up at 1 month, and again between 6 months to 1 year. Most institutions will then discharge patients unless there is a residual lesion. Because long-term experience with catheter closure is more limited than with surgical ligation, some practitioners will continue to follow up these patients every 2 years.

The management of developmental delays in children with PDA should include early referrals to developmental consultants and targeted interventions, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies, alongside early educational support to address specific developmental needs.[8]Sood E, Newburger JW, Anixt JS, et al. Neurodevelopmental outcomes for individuals with congenital heart disease: updates in neuroprotection, risk-stratification, evaluation, and management: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2024 Mar 26;149(13):e997-1022. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001211 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38385268?tool=bestpractice.com ​

Premature infants will need to be observed for a longer period as the ductus may re-open in some patients. However, they are often followed clinically by their primary physician or neonatal consultant.