[Patent ductus arteriosus].

The ductus arteriosus is a physiological structure allowing shunt of blood from the pulmonary artery to the descending aorta during fetal life (unventilated lung). The incidence of isolated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in children born at term is about 1 per 2000 live births, accounting for 5-10% of all congenital heart defects. The pathophysiological significance and management of PDA vary according to the clinical context (isolated anomaly or as part of complex congenital heart disease), magnitude of the shunt, and stadium within the natural history. This review summarizes the embryogenetic, pathophysiological, clinical and therapeutic basic concepts for an updated approach to this particular heart disease commonly seen even by the cardiologist of the adult.