title: Patent ductus arteriosus in adults: Case report and review illustrating the spectrum of the disease.
abstract: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect in which the ductus arteriosus, a vascular structure between the pulmonary artery and the aorta that normally closes shortly after birth, remains open. We present two cases of adults with PDA. A 28-year-old lady had a small PDA without any symptoms or left heart overload. The PDA was closed for endocarditis prevention using a coil. In a 37-year-old lady with palpitations, collapse, dyspnoea and left heart overload caused by a large PDA, percutaneous closure of the PDA was performed with an Amplatzer device. Transcatheter closure has been established to be the method of choice for treating a PDA in adults. (Neth Heart J 2008;16:255-9.).
authors: Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Wiyono
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Witsenburg
authors: P P T
authors: PP
authors: de Jaegere
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Roos-Hesselink