Comparison of suture ligation and clip application for the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates

ObjectiveWe reviewed the experience of 2 centers performing surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates to identify whether the choice of surgical technique—suture ligation or clip application—affected outcome.MethodsBetween 2000 and 2005, 67 newborn infants had open surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus: 33 by suture ligation and 34 by clip application. The groups were similar in age and sex.ResultsThe average length of the procedure was 55.8 ± 13.7 minutes for suture ligation and 30.8 ± 8.7 minutes for clip application (P < .05). Six neonates had intraoperative bleeding in the suture ligation group. Four patients had significant postoperative complications in the suture ligation group, compared with 2 in the clip application group.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that clip application results in a significant reduction in the operative time and, possibly, in less morbidity

Perioperative Mortality Rate (POMR): a global indicator of access to safe surgery and anaesthesia

The unmet global burden of surgical disease is substantial. Currently, two billion people do not have access to emergency and essential surgical care. This results in unnecessary deaths from injury, infection, complications of pregnancy, and abdominal emergencies. Inadequately treated surgical disease results in disability, and many children suffer deformity without corrective surgery