Before preparing a teaching plan for the parents of an infant with ductus arteriosus, it is important that the nurse understands this condition. Which statement best describes patent ductus arteriosus?

Question

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

Answer 1

B
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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.
B Patent ductus arteriosus is failure of the fetal shunt between the aorta and the
pulmonary artery to close.
C Patent ductus arteriosus is not a stenotic lesion. Patent ductus arteriosus can be
closed both medically and surgically.
D 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.