OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical treatment methods and their effects in the treatment of premature patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and to summarize the experience of surgical treatment for PDA.

METHODSNineteen premature infants who were diagnosed with PDA and received surgical treatment betwen January 2013 and December 2014 were selected as the surgical group, and 19 premature infants with PDA who did not receive surgical treatment during the same period were selected as the non-surgical group. The differences in medical history, clinical conditions, mortality, and major complications between the two groups were analyzed, and the characteristics of surgical treatment and its clinical effects were analyzed from the aspects of preoperative preparation and surgical results.

RESULTSCompared with the surgical group, the gestational age and birth weight in the non-surgical group were significantly greater (P<0.01), and Apgar scores for 1 and 5 minutes after birth were significantly higher in the non-surgical group (P<0.05). The PDA diameter, time to confirmed ultrasonic diagnosis, and duration of auxiliary ventilation in the surgical group were greater than in the non-surgical group, and the incidence of drug therapy, left atrium/aortic root (LA/AO) ratio>1.3, and the square of catheter diameter/birth weight (d2/BW) ratio>9 mm2/kg in the surgical group was significantly higher than in the non-surgical group (P<0.05). Compared with the non-surgical group, the surgical group had a significantly higher incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (P<0.01), and there were no significant differences in the incidence of death, cerebral white matter damage, intracranial hemorrhage, and necrotizing enterocolitis between the two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor premature infants with clinical symptoms and no improvement after conservative medical treatment or drug therapy, surgical ligation is a relatively safe and effective treatment method for PDA.