Patent arterial duct

**Definition:** A congenital cardiovascular finding in which the arterial duct (ductus arteriosus) is open beyond the normal age of spontaneous closure.

**Long definition:** A patent arterial duct is a vascular arterial connection between the thoracic aorta and the pulmonary artery. Most commonly, a patent arterial duct has its origin from the descending thoracic aorta, just distal and opposite the origin of the left subclavian artery. The insertion of the duct is most commonly into the very proximal left pulmonary artery at its junction with the main pulmonary artery. Origination and insertion sites can be variable.

**Inclusions:** - bilateral arterial ducts