PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS IN INFANCY

Patent ductus arteriosus produces symptoms in infancy which vary widely in kind and severity. Five patients observed during the past five years have been described briefly to illustrate these variations. One infant died at the age of one month with an aneurysm of the ductus. Another patient, with atypical signs, had a sevede degree of congestive failure until surgical treatment provided dramatic relief. In the other patients symptoms were limited to retardation of growth, frequent respiratory infections and atypical murmurs until the later months of infancy. In spite of the variation of physical signs and of the radiologic and electrocardiographic findings, an accurate diagnosis can often be made early in life. When doubt exists, and especially in infants suffering from cardiac failure, cardiac catheterization, aortography or angiocardiography must be employed to secure information necessary for immediate surgical treatment. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that patent ductus can be the sole lesion causing congestive failure in infancy.