In many very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants the ductus arteriosus fails to
close spontaneously, and they subsequently develop signs and symptoms of p
oor tissue perfusion and heart failure. This study evalutes the results of
early surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We retrospectivel
y reviewed the records of all 101 VLBW infants who weighed 1,500 g or less
when their PDA was surgically ligated in Turku University Hospital between
1985 and 1998. The mean gestational age at birth was 27.2 weeks and mean bi
rth weight 963 +/- 239 g. The operation was performed at 12 +/- 8 days of a
ge; the infants' weight at operation was 969 +/- 231 g and they were trache
ally extubated 11 +/- 14 days after the operation. The surgery-related mort
ality was 3% (3/101) and overall mortality 10% (10/101). We conclude that s
urgical closure of PDA is safe and effective in VLBW infants.