Final answer:
A persistent patent ductus arteriosus results in left ventricular volume overload due to increased blood volume that the left ventricle needs to handle.
Step-by-step explanation:
Persistent patent ductus arteriosus results in left ventricular volume overload. This condition occurs when the ductus arteriosus, a vessel that connects the pulmonary artery to the aorta in a fetus, fails to close after birth. As a result, oxygenated blood from the higher pressure aorta flows back into the pulmonary artery and then to the lungs, increasing the volume of blood that the left ventricle has to handle. This additional volume causes the left ventricle to work harder and can eventually lead to its enlargement.