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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffA small patent ductus arteriosus may not cause symptoms. Larger defects that are untreated can cause high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension), frequent lung infections, irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) or heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart can't pump effectively.
People with structural heart problems, such as a patent ductus arteriosus, are at a higher risk of infectious endocarditis than is the general population. Infectious endocarditis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart caused by a bacterial infection.
Rarely, pulmonary hypertension can cause permanent lung damage, and pulmonary hypertension becomes irreversible (Eisenmenger's syndrome).
Patent ductus arteriosus and pregnancy
Pregnancy is often a concern for women born with a heart defect. Most women with patent ductus arteriosus can tolerate pregnancy without any problems. However, having a larger defect or having complications such as heart failure, arrhythmias or pulmonary hypertension can increase your risk of complications during pregnancy. Doctors strongly advise women with Eisenmenger's syndrome not to become pregnant because it can endanger the woman's life.
The risk of congenital heart disease in the general population is less than 1 percent. For children of parents with congenital heart disease, whether father or mother, this risk increases to between 2 percent and 20 percent, according to the American Heart Association. Experts recommend that anyone with a congenital heart defect, repaired or not, who is considering starting a family, carefully discuss it beforehand with his or her doctor.
In some cases, preconception consultations with doctors who specialize in cardiology, genetics and high-risk obstetric care are needed. Some heart medications can cause serious problems for a fetus and may need to be stopped or adjusted before you become pregnant.
