Patent ductus arteriosus Ductus arteriosus Fyler:2100 PDA Patent ductus Botalli Persistent arterial duct HP:0001643 UMLS:C0013274 Persistent ductus arteriosus SNOMEDCT_US:83330001 In utero, the ductus arteriosus (DA) serves to divert ventricular output away from the lungs and toward the placenta by connecting the main pulmonary artery to the descending aorta. A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in the first 3 days of life is a physiologic shunt in healthy term and preterm newborn infants, and normally is substantially closed within about 24 hours after bith and completely closed after about three weeks. Failure of physiologcal closure is referred to a persistent or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Depending on the degree of left-to-right shunting, PDA can have clinical consequences. Abnormality of the vasculature Abnormal cardiovascular system morphology