NICU Copilot

Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

Persistent fetal shunt between aorta and pulmonary artery. Hemodynamic significance depends on size, direction, and systemic perfusion.

All references

Key points

  • Widening pulse pressure, bounding pulses, hyperactive precordium.
  • Echo: ductal diameter >1.5 mm, LA:Ao >1.4, reversed/absent diastolic flow in descending aorta.
  • Treatment: conservative fluid restriction, indomethacin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen; surgical/transcatheter closure if persistent and symptomatic.

Pitfalls

  • Not all PDAs need treatment — focus on hemodynamic significance.
  • Indomethacin contraindicated in renal dysfunction, NEC, active bleeding.

Ask the Copilot

  • — When should I treat a PDA?
  • — Walk me through hsPDA echo criteria.

Important Notice

Please read before continuing

The Baby Copilot is an educational and informational clinical reasoning support tool intended for licensed healthcare professionals and trainees. It is not a medical device and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or manage any patient condition.

Outputs generated by The Baby Copilot are AI-generated educational suggestions based on user-provided information and may be incomplete, inaccurate, or inappropriate for a specific clinical situation. All clinical decisions remain solely the responsibility of the treating healthcare professional.

Do not enter protected health information (PHI), patient-identifiable information, medical record numbers, dates of birth, or any other sensitive patient data into this platform.

By continuing, you acknowledge and agree that:

  • The Baby Copilot does not replace clinical judgment.
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