Patent ductus arteriosus electrocardiogram


 * Associate Editor-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S. [mailto:psingh@perfuse.org],, Assistant Editor-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S. [mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Electrocardiogram
An electrocardiogram will appear differently depending on the severity of disease onset. In general, one can expect:
 * 1) Small PDA: the EKG is normal.
 * 2) Medium-sized PDA: there is LVH, LA increase, prolonged PR interval and eventual atrial fibrillation.
 * 3) Large-sized PDA: is similar to that of a VSD complicated by pulmonary hypertension. One can also expect:
 * 4) Evidence of LVH is decreased or absent because there is essentially normal volume work by the LV.
 * 5) There is RVH instead with a large R wave in V1. No Rsr' like ASD.
 * 6) Marked right axis deviation is common.
 * 7) Peaked RA p waves are present