ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The open ductus arteriosus (ODA) is the vessel through which the pathological communication between the aorta and the pulmonary artery persists after birth. Clinical manifestations depend on the size of the duct and the stage of hemodynamic disorders. The course of the defect varies from asymptomatic to extremely severe. With large duct sizes, the latter manifests itself from the first week of life with signs of heart failure. The current research is devoted to the choice of the optimal method of medical and surgical treatment in premature newborns with an unaffected ductus arteriosus. Drug therapy for pulmonary hypertension is recommended only for those patients who have irreversible pulmonary hypertension. Surgical closure of the ODA is recommended for overloads of the left heart or signs of pulmonary hypertension in the presence of blood discharge from left to right and after previously suffered endocarditis. The article analyzes current information about the treatment of premature infants with ODA.