Surgical treatment of persistent ductus arteriosus at the University College Hospital, Ibadan.

Seventy-seven patients aged from 5 days to 30 years underwent surgical correction of persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) between July 1975 and December 1985. Forty-seven percent presented before 5 years of age while 20% were aged above 15 years. The male:female ratio was 1:2. Additional cardiovascular anomaly was present in 14 patients, 8 of which were ventricular septal defect. Majority presented with congestive heart failure and or failure to thrive. Surgical closure was effected by ligation in 67 cases, division and suture in 5 and unspecified in 5 cases. Operative mortality was 2(2.1%) cases. Complications with superficial wound infections occurred in a minority of patients. We conclude that despite a large left to right shunt in most patients, attested to by their symptomatic status, and late presentation surgical closure can be accomplished with minimal morbidity and mortality in centres with limited facilities.