This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of three-port thoracoscopic surgery for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation in children. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 50 pediatric patients with PDA (median age: 30 months; median weight: 12.00 kg; median ductal diameter: 2.50 mm) treated with three-port thoracoscopic surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Kunming Children’s Hospital from January 2021 to June 2024. All 50 patients successfully underwent surgery without conversion to open thoracotomy; there was no mortality. The median hospitalization cost was 25 211.00 CNY. Postoperatively, three (6.00%) patients developed chylothorax and three (6.00%) patients had residual shunts. During the 6–36 month follow-up period, no instances of ductal recanalization or other complications were reported. In conclusion, three-port thoracoscopic PDA ligation is a safe and effective approach, offering cosmetic incisions, definitive efficacy, and low complication rates. However, meticulous handling during ductus arteriosus ligation is essential to minimize complications and residual shunts.
Ma et al. (Tue,) studied this question.