BACKGROUND: As the advance of minimally invasive surgical techniques becomes more apparent, new applications are being identified. The present report describes the videothoracoscopy technique for closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). OBJECTIVE: To report our initial surgical experience with this procedure. METHODS: From March 1994 to November 1999, thoracoscopic closure of PDA was performed in 40 patients, males and females, whose age ranged from 8 months to 17 years, and whose mean weight was 15 kg. After induction of general anesthesia and intubation, the patient was positioned on right side, as for a posterolateral thoracostomy. Four thoracostomies of 3 to 5 mm long were made in the left hemithorax, each corresponding in size to the appropriate instruments for work, than the PDA was dissected up and double clipped with titanium clips or closed by a thick suture with intracorporeal knot. RESULT: Three patients required conversion to thoracotomy owing to bleeding (7.5%). There was no operative mortality and the mean hospital stay was 48 hours. CONCLUSION: This is a safe procedure, with low complication rate and low cost.
Cardiac surgical procedures; Arterial channel; Thoracoscopy; Surgery minimally invasive
