[Closure of patent ductus arteriosus by video thoracoscopy in 282 children]

Closure of patent ductus arteriosus by video thoracoscopy is a standardised procedure. The authors report their experience of closure of patent ductus arteriosus by video-thoracoscopy from May 1991 to December 1995. The series included 282 patients divided into 3 groups according to age: under 6 months (78 patients, 27.6%), from 6 months to 4 years (135 patients, 42.88%) and over 4 years of age (69 patients, 24.6%) with an average weight of 12.6 kg (range: 1.2 to 65 kg). Symptomatic pulmonary hypertension was observed in 39 cases and 9 children had associated intracardiac malformations (ostium secundum: 3; ventricular septal defect: 5; abnormal pulmonary venous drainage: 1) which were not corrected. The technique consisted of placing two titanium clips in position under video-thoracoscopy to close the ductus. An echo performed immediately afterwards confirmed closure of the ductus. The main complications were: persistence of a shunt (4 cases) at the beginning of our experience requiring immediate reoperation by video-thoracoscopy in 3 cases and by thoracotomy in one case; left recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 6 cases (2.1%) with regression in 5 and persistence in one case; one case of postoperative chylothorax which regressed rapidly. There were no fatalities or haemorrhages and no blood transfusions were required in this series. The average operating time was 20 +/- 15 minutes and the duration of hospital stay around 48 hours when the patients were over 6 months old and 72 hours when less than 6 months of age. Video-thoracoscopic closure of patent ductus arteriosus is rapid, safe, economical, it provides excellent results and may be used in children of all ages.