title: The evolution of ductus arteriosus treatment.
abstract: The treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) has evolved over the years. We reviewed 231 non-premature children (group 1) undergoing surgical closure of a PDA between January 1985 and December 1997, and 30 children (group 2) undergoing transcatheter closure from May 1995 to December 1998. The median age and weight at operation in group 1 were 13 months (range, 0.5-174 months) and 9.5 kg (range, 1.9-49.7 kg), respectively. There was one intra-operative death (0.4%) secondary to hemorrhage. Immediate extubation was performed in 208 patients (90%). Intra-operative chest tube use decreased from 73.3% to 10% between the 1985-88 and 1996-97 periods (P < 0.001). Postoperative pneumothoraces occurred in 33/131 (25%) patients with only one patient (0.7%) requiring drainage. Eleven patients had complications including wound infection in four, vocal cord paralysis in three, and left pulmonary artery stenosis in one. The median length of stay (LOS) was 5 days (range, 2-43 days). Follow-up echocardiogram was performed in 146/230 patients (63%) and revealed a residual PDA in six (4%); two being re-ligated, two remaining clinically insignificant, and two spontaneously resolved at 7 and 28 months follow-up. The remaining 84 patients had no clinical signs of a residual PDA. In group 2, where a transcatheter coil occlusion technique was used, the median age and weight at procedure were 31 months (range, 9-320 months) and 14.9 kg (range, 9-69.7 kg), respectively. Vascular complications occurred in four patients (13.3%). One patient developed hemolysis and hemoglobinuria requiring hospital admission. Four patients required a second intervention. At the most recent echocardiographic assessment, four patients (13.3%) had a residual PDA.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Cardiology and Radiology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada. jleblanc@dowco.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sett
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Human
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Culham
mesh_terms: D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007440:Intubation; D007902:Length of Stay; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome