What type of murmur is associated with a patent ductus arteriosus?

A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) creates a distinct type of heart murmur that is best described as continuous. This type of murmur occurs because blood flows continuously from the aorta to the pulmonary artery through the ductus arteriosus, which remains open instead of closing after birth as it normally should. The continuous nature of the murmur reflects the persistent flow of blood during both systole and diastole rather than being isolated to just one phase of the cardiac cycle.

In a normal situation, diastolic murmurs are typically heard during diastole when the heart is resting between beats, while intermittent murmurs are transient and not consistently present through the entire cycle. The term "launching" is not a recognized classification of murmurs in cardiology. Therefore, the defining characteristic of the murmur associated with a patent ductus arteriosus is its continuous sound, indicative of the abnormal blood flow pattern present in this condition.