Which medication can be administered intravenously to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus?

Prostaglandin E is the appropriate medication to administer intravenously to maintain the patency of the ductus arteriosus. This is particularly crucial in cases where there is a need to keep the ductus arteriosus open, such as in certain congenital heart defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome or coarctation of the aorta. Prostaglandin E works by relaxing the smooth muscle of the ductus arteriosus, preventing its closure, which is a natural process that occurs in the first few days of life.

In clinical practice, maintaining ductal patency allows for improved blood flow and oxygenation in neonates who rely on the ductus arteriosus for adequate circulation, particularly when there are anatomical abnormalities affecting normal cardiac function. This medication is typically administered continuously via an intravenous infusion to ensure that the ductus remains open until surgical or other therapeutic interventions can be undertaken.

Other medications listed, such as indomethacin and digoxin, serve different purposes. Indomethacin is actually utilized to encourage the closure of the ductus arteriosus in certain circumstances, such as to treat a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) when it is deemed excessive and causing problems. Adenosine is mainly used