Patent Ductus Arteriosus | Lessons with Audio and Video | #109

This is an example of patent ductus arteriosus heard at the pulmonic position. Before birth, the two major arteries—the aorta and the pulmonary artery—are connected by a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus. Shortly after birth the patent ductus closes and turns into a ligament. However, in certain abnormal circumstances the patent ductus remains open allowing blood to flow from the aorta into the pulmonary artery causing a strain on the right ventricle. The first heart sound is normal. The second heart sound is obscured by a continuous crescendo-decrescendo murmur which runs from the beginning of systole to the end of diastole peaking at the second heart sound. In the anatomy video you can see an enlarged left atrium and left ventricle and turbulent blood flow from the aorta to the pulmonary artery through the patent ductus.

Auscultation Sounds

Patient Recording

Patient Recording - Half Speed

Position

The patient's position should be supine.

Listening Tips

Systole:Crescendo-decrescendo murmur, peaking late systole
S2:Obscured
Diastole:Crescendo-decrescendo murmur continuing from systole

Waveform (Phonocardiogram)

Observe Cardiac Animation

Notice an enlarged left atrium and left ventricle and turbulent blood flow from the aorta to the pulmonary artery through the patent ductus in this cardiac animation.

Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers

EKG heart rhythm modules: Thomas O'Brien.
EKG monitor simulation developer: Steve Collmann
12 Lead Course: Dr. Michael Mazzini, MD.
Spanish language EKG: Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH
Medical review: Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD
Heart sounds and mentorship: W. Proctor Harvey, MD
Medical review: Dr. Pedro Azevedo, MD, Cardiology
Last Update: 1/8/2023

Sources

Electrocardiography for Healthcare Professionals, 5th Edition Kathryn Booth and Thomas O'Brien
ISBN10: 1260064778, ISBN13: 9781260064773
McGraw Hill, 2019
Rapid Interpretation of EKG's, Sixth Edition
Dale Dublin
Cover Publishing Company
12 Lead EKG for Nurses: Simple Steps to Interpret Rhythms, Arrhythmias, Blocks, Hypertrophy, Infarcts, & Cardiac Drugs
Aaron Reed
Create Space Independent Publishing
Heart Sounds and Murmurs: A Practical Guide with Audio CD-ROM 3rd Edition
Elsevier-Health Sciences Division
Barbara A. Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN
Clinical Heart Disease W Proctor Harvey, MD
Clinical Heart Disease
Laennec Publishing; 1st edition (January 1, 2009)
The Virtual Cardiac Patient: A Multimedia Guide to Heart Sounds, Murmurs, EKG Jonathan Keroes, David Lieberman
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin)
ISBN-10: 0781784425; ISBN-13: 978-0781784429
Project Semilla, UCLA Emergency Medicine, EKG Training Breena R. Taira, MD, MPH

Return to Reference Guide Index Page

Patent Ductus Arteriosus | Lessons with Audio and Video | #109