LIGATION OF PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS BY THE METHOD OF VIDEO-ASSISTED THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY AND OUR OTHER VATS EXPERIENCES

In April and May 1996, two cases of PDA ligation were performed firstl y in Turkey by the method of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VAT S) in Dokuz Eylul Medical Faculty, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Department. There was not any complication in these patients in the p ostoperative period and they were discharged on the second day in symp tom-free condition by the detection of closed ductus in their echocard iographic examination. Between February 1993 and October 1996, a total of 46 patients have undergone interventional application by VATS. Whi le in six of these patients the procedure could not be manipulated bec ause of massive pleural fibrosis, there was no mortality or morbidity among the patients, and they were discharged on average on the second day, The ratio of complications, such as bleeding, air leak, arrhythmi a and empyema are so low in these operations, and hospital stay, with return to work time are shorter than with the open technique.