The ductus arteriosus connects the main aorta of the heart and the pulmonary artery so that blood can bypass the lungs in the foetus as the unborn baby does not breathe air. But, once the baby is born this opening usually closes by itself so that the blood can go to the lungs to get oxygenated. In PDA, the opening does not close and this endangers the infant’s heart. To treat the condition, a paediatric cardiac surgeon may use various surgical techniques including minimally-invasive procedures (cardiac catheterization) to close the ductus arteriosus.