Final answer:
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) creates a continuous murmur and is a serious congenital heart defect that may require drugs or surgery to prevent congestive heart failure.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect where the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that bypasses pulmonary circulation in fetal life, fails to close after birth. This condition results in a continuous murmur, which is often described as a "machinery-like" sound that occurs throughout the cardiac cycle because the blood mixes from the high-pressure aorta to the low-pressure pulmonary artery during both systole and diastole.
Management of PDA may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to encourage closure, or in more severe cases, surgical intervention or catheter-based techniques. Congestive heart failure may develop if the PDA is left untreated, stressing the importance of timely management.