Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Arabs

Two hundred patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) underwent sur gery for either triple ligation and transfixation (183 patients = 91.5%) or divi sion and suture (18 patients = 8.5%). The patent ductus arteriosus was an isolated lesion in 163 patients (81.5%) and combined with other cardiac anoma lies in 37 patients (18.5%). Advanced pulmonary hypertension (> 50 mmHg), even in the pediatric age group, was seen in 70 patients (35%). Familial PDA occurred in 6 patients, and 38 patients were born at a high- altitude area (> 4000 feet). Recanalization occurred in only 1 patient (0.5%) owing to initial faulty tech nique using umbilical tape instead of strong silk for ligation of the PDA. Only 2 patients with complex congenital anomalies died (mortality rate of 1%). The peculiarities, presentation forms, and surgical results in Arab patients with PDA are discussed in this paper.