Reduced morbidity with early surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low birth weight infants: a retrospective single-centre study

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Failure of the patent ductus arteriosus to close is common among extremely low birth weight neonates and has been associated with increased morbidities. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes between early and late surgical ligation in extremely low birth weight patients. Methods: This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study of infants who required surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus between January 2017 and August 2022. Results: A total of 43 neonates were identified with birth weight less than 1 kg that underwent surgical patent ductus arteriosus ligation. Compared to the late ligation group, the early ligation group experienced fewer total days of mechanical ventilation (43.9 days vs. 97.2 days, p < 0.05) and a shorter length of hospital stay (114.2 days vs. 169.0 days, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Early surgical ligation of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus in extremely low birth weight neonates may improve hospital morbidity, including improved ventilatory outcomes and a shorter length of stay.