Aim: Our aim was to review the outcome of ligation of the persistently patent arterial duct in neonates as performed outside a paediatric cardiothoracic centre by an outreach surgical team.
Methods: A retrospective observational study of all ligations of the persistently patent arterial duct performed in Cambridge between January, 1988, and December, 2002.
Results: Over the period of 15 years studied, a persistently patent arterial duct was ligated in 43 neonates. The median gestational age at birth was 26 weeks, with a range from 23 to 35 weeks, and median weight at birth was 722 grams, with a range from 500 to 2100 grams. Median age at ligation, was 25 days, with a range from 10 to 89 days, and their weight was 963 grams, with a range from 568 to 2221 grams. Ligation was successful in 42 babies (98%), mortality at 30 days of 5%, and 29 of the babies (67%) surviving to be discharged from the hospital. The late deaths were due to complications of prematurity, rather than the procedure of ligation.
Conclusion: The persistently patent arterial duct can successfully be ligated by an outreach surgical team outside a paediatric cardiothoracic centre. There was an excellent 30 day survival.