Patent ductus arteriosus

ductus arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus is a short arterial segment in the fetus that connects the origin of the main pulmonary artery to the aorta below the left subclavian artery. The ductus usually closes within the first hours of life. In cases where it persists, its wall often shows changes that suggest it is a primary anomaly … Read more

What is a bicuspid aortic valve?

bicuspid aortic valve

While a normal aortic valve has three leaflets, a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital anomaly where the valve has only two leaflets. It results from an embryonic development defect with a strong genetic component, often linked to the NOTCH1 gene. BAV is the most common congenital heart defect, affecting about 2% of the … Read more