A case of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for patent ductus arteriosus *
A ten-year-old girl with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) underwent atrial septal defect (ASD) radical surgery. However, ductal flow was confirmed and did not disappear during follow up after the ASD radical operation. She was then hospitalized for surgical treatment in our hospital. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was performed because ductal flow was small. The operation was carried out under general anesthesia and five trocars were inserted through the left intercostal spaces. After the ductus was carefully dissected and exposed, two clips of 11 mm in length were applied to interrupt the ductus completely. Postoperatively, percutaneous heart ultrasonography revealed that the ductal flow had disappeared completely. Paralysis of a recurrent laryngeal nerve did not occur. There are limits to adaptation of the ductus arteriosus closedown technique using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, but it is safe and minimally invasive surgery. (Accepted on June 13，2006)
