ABSTRACT
The Enugu experience of surgical treatment for persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus (PDA) over the period April 1986 to March 1992 is reviewed. A total of 322 patients with PDA had left thoracotomy. Ligation alone was carried out in six patients (1;86 per cent); division and suture closure was done in 312 (96;89 per cent); while in 4 patients (1;24 per cent); the PDA was not closed because of the presence of severe pulmonary hypertension and right to left shunting at the ductal level. The commonest associated anomaly was ventricular septal defect requiring pulmonary artery banding in addition to ductal closure in 59 patients (18;30 per cent). There were 2 deaths in the series (0;62) with occured in neonates with other malformation. It is concluded that operative closure of PDA is a safe procedure