This is an abnormal connection between left pulmonary artery and aorta. This connection exists in fetal circulation which may sometimes fail to close leading to such situation. This situation may be associated with mothers who had German measles (rubella )during pregnancy.

It produces excessive blood flow through the lungs leading to damage to the arteries of lung, which eventually swells up causing   blockage of its lumen. This leads to a situation called pulmonary hypertension. Sometimes in extreme situation due to pulmonary hypertension the flow through the defect may be reversed leading to bluish discoloration of lower half of the body.

Small defect may be detected in routine examination as a heart murmur. Larger defect causes shortness of breath, recurrent cough and cold and sometimes heart failure. Infection in the duct (endocarditis) can be a serious matter. The severity of the problem depends on how large the opening is and how prematurely the baby is born.

In premature infants sometimes PDA can be treated with medicine (indomethacin) and the duct may close. Otherwise surgical closure is the method of treatment. The duct may be ligated or divided and sutured.

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