Patent Ductus Venosus in an early term infant with mild respiratory distress – Case report

Patent ductus venosus is an extremely rare form of congenital portosystemic shunt that results in the diversion of portal blood into the systemic circulation, decreasing hepatic blood flow and increasing blood volume and toxic substances in the systemic circulation. We present a clinical case of a male infant born at 37 5/7 weeks gestational age with patent ductus venosus. Because very few cases of patent ductus venosus have been reported, the prudent approach it would be to perform serial Doppler studies and laboratory tests to follow the course of the ductus venosus until closure and to intervene if the infant becomes unstable and symptomatic. The medical team decided that the conservative management in this case was a better choice, since the infant remained stable with good growth.