Final answer:
B. Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN) refers to the continued constriction of pulmonary blood vessels after birth, leading to high pulmonary pressure and difficulty in oxygen exchange.
Step-by-step explanation:
When pulmonary blood vessels remain constricted after birth, this condition is called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). This occurs when the normal circulatory transition after birth does not happen properly, leading to high blood pressure in the lungs and difficulty in oxygenation. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is related but distinct, referring to the failure of the ductus arteriosus, which normally diverts blood away from the lungs before birth, to close postnatally. PDA can contribute to the development of PPHN but are not the same. Treatment of PDA to prevent complications such as congestive heart failure can include the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, manual closure with coils or mesh, or surgical closure.
When pulmonary blood vessels remain constricted after birth, it is called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn (PPHN). After birth, the ductus arteriosus is no longer needed to shunt blood away from the lungs and normally closes within a day or two. If the ductus arteriosus fails to close, it results in blood flowing from the higher pressure aorta into the lower pressure pulmonary trunk, increasing pulmonary pressure and making respiration difficult.