A nurse is explaining a patent ductus arteriosus defect to the parents of a preterm infant. The parents indicate understanding of the defect when they state that a patent ductus arteriosus:

Question

a. involves a defect that results in a right-to-left shunting of blood in the heart.
b. involves a defect in which the fetal shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery fails to close.
c. is a stenotic lesion that must be surgically corrected at birth.
d. causes an abnormal opening between the four chambers of the heart.

Answer 1

B
Patent ductus arteriosus is failure of the fetal shunt between the aorta and the pulmonary artery to close. A patent ductus arteriosus allows blood to flow from the high-pressure aorta to the low-pressure pulmonary artery, resulting in a left-to-right shunt. Patent ductus arteriosus is not a stenotic lesion. Patent ductus arteriosus can be closed both medically and surgically. Atrioventricular defect occurs when fetal development of the endocardial cushions is disturbed, resulting in abnormalities in the atrial and ventricular septa and the atrioventricular valves.