A nurse is assessing an infant who has patent ductus arteriosus. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

The assessment of an infant with patent ductus arteriosus requires understanding fetal circulation and the hemodynamic consequences of left-to-right shunting. Knowledge of pulmonary congestion and compensatory cardiac mechanisms is applied to predict the expected clinical manifestations. Choice A rationale Patent ductus arteriosus leads to increased pulmonary blood flow, causing the heart to work harder to maintain systemic output. This usually results in tachycardia as a compensatory mechanism, rather than a decreased heart rate. Choice B rationale Excess blood flow to the lungs through the ductus causes pulmonary congestion and fluid overload. The infant increases their respiratory rate to compensate for decreased lung compliance and impaired gas exchange, often resulting in tachypnea. Choice C rationale Increased temperature is typically a sign of infection or thermoregulatory issues, not a direct hemodynamic result of patent ductus arteriosus. While the infant may sweat during feedings, a true fever is not a classic finding. Choice D rationale Patent ductus arteriosus often causes a widened pulse pressure where the systolic pressure remains normal or slightly elevated while the diastolic pressure drops. This creates bounding pulses, but a decreased systolic pressure is not characteristic.