Surgical ligation of the patent ductus arteriosus in low birth weight pre-term infants. A review of 67 consecutive cases.
Between March 1978 and October 1983, sixty-seven low birth weight infants (600-1500 gm) with gestational age of 26-33 weeks had surgical ligation of PDA in our unit. Thirty-six (54%) had previous failed indomethacin therapy. Congestive cardiac failure (61), respiratory distress syndrome (48) and failure to thrive (34) were the presenting features. Nine patients had severe acidosis (pH 6.8-7.18) on admission. A trans-pleural approach was used in all. Ventilation was required for 1-13 days. There were no intra-operative deaths. Sixteen (24%) died of the problems of prematurity. The others have continued to thrive. We believe that ligation of PDA is a safe and effective procedure in the low birth weight premature infant, but should only be undertaken in a well set up paediatric cardiac surgical unit.
D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005183:Failure to Thrive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D008026:Ligation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy