Outcomes of Primary Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Compared With Secondary Ligation After Pharmacologic Failure in Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infants

This study aimed to determine whether primary surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality compared with secondary surgical ligation. The study enrolled 178 very-low-birth-weight infants. The surgical group included 34 patients who did not respond to pharmacologic intervention and eventually required ligation of their PDA as well as 35 patients who underwent direct ligation because of contraindications to the use of oral ibuprofen. The overall outcomes for the primary and secondary ligation groups were compared. The outcome during hospitalization showed no statistically significant difference in terms of morbidity and mortality between the two groups. The group that had primary ligation for PDA experienced more complications associated with premature birth such as lower gestational age and birth weight. The two groups did not differ significantly in terms of overall outcomes.