BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a frequent congenital heart disease encountered in premature neonates, infants, and children. Video-assisted endoscopic techniques have been used in PDA interruption since 1993. Almost all the experiences are in pediatric patients. Applications in adults with PDA have been limited. METHODS: We report our experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical ligation of PDA in adults. From August 1995 to January 1996, 60 patients with PDA were operated on with a video-assisted thoracoscopic technique. Twelve adults were identified with mean age of 30 years (range, 20 to 57 years). With the patient under general anesthesia and double-lumen endotracheal intubation, two 5-mm holes were made in the left lateral chest wall. Another 4-cm incision was made in the left third intercostal space for manipulation, dissection, and ligation. Conventional surgical instruments were used except an endoscopic grasper and an endoscopic tube that connected to a video camera. The surgical procedure was viewed on a video screen. Transesophageal echocardiography was used for monitoring during PDA ligation. RESULTS: All patients had successful ligation of the PDA. There was no surgical mortality, but there was one morbidity; transient recurrent nerve injury, which recovered 3 months later. Ten patients were extubated in operative room and 2 patients were extubated 2 hours after the operation. Tube thoracostomy was performed in the first 2 cases; it was omitted thereafter. No patients needed narcotic to control chest pain. Postoperative follow-up by echocardiography showed faint ductal flow in 1 patient without any murmur. All patients were discharged within 3 days after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that with refinement of instruments and surgical technique, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical ligation can be safely applied not only in pediatric patients, but also in adults with PDA.
BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a frequent congenital heart disease encountered in premature neonates, infants, and children. Video-assisted endoscopic techniques have been used in PDA interruption since 1993. Almost all the experiences are in pediatric patients. Applications in adults with PDA have been limited. METHODS: We report our experience of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical ligation of PDA in adults. From August 1995 to January 1996, 60 patients with PDA were operated on with a video-assisted thoracoscopic technique. Twelve adults were identified with mean age of 30 years (range, 20 to 57 years). With the patient under general anesthesia and double-lumen endotracheal intubation, two 5-mm holes were made in the left lateral chest wall. Another 4-cm incision was made in the left third intercostal space for manipulation, dissection, and ligation. Conventional surgical instruments were used except an endoscopic grasper and an endoscopic tube that connected to a video camera. The surgical procedure was viewed on a video screen. Transesophageal echocardiography was used for monitoring during PDA ligation. RESULTS: All patients had successful ligation of the PDA. There was no surgical mortality, but there was one morbidity; transient recurrent nerve injury, which recovered 3 months later. Ten patients were extubated in operative room and 2 patients were extubated 2 hours after the operation. Tube thoracostomy was performed in the first 2 cases; it was omitted thereafter. No patients needed narcotic to control chest pain. Postoperative follow-up by echocardiography showed faint ductal flow in 1 patient without any murmur. All patients were discharged within 3 days after the operation. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that with refinement of instruments and surgical technique, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical ligation can be safely applied not only in pediatric patients, but also in adults with PDA.