The Change of Cardiothoracic Ratio after Ligation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Adult: Report of 30 cases

Hwang, Sang Won; Lee, Yeon Jae; Kim, Han Yong; Yoo, Byung Ha

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Treatment of adult patent ductus arteriosus(PDA) has many difficulty such as pulmonary hypertension, arterial wall calcification, aneurysmal chage of ductus. We tried to evaluate the effect of surgical interruption of PDA on postopeative change of heart size. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From 1987 to 1997 we experienced 30 cases of the ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in adult at the department of cardiovacular surgery in Masan Samsung General Hospital. RESULT: There were 9 males and 21 females and their ages ranged from 16 to 44 years, with a mean age of 26.1 years. 15 patients had pulmonary hypertension and 9 patients complained of dyspnea with a degree of functional NYHA class III. Operation method was double or triple ligation using Teflon felt. Postoperative complications were wound dehiscence in 3 patients and transient hoarseness in 1 patient. The mean preoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 54.7%, and mean postoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 51.9%. The change of cardiothoracic ratio was more typical in the cases who had congestive heart failure. Their mean preoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 64.8% and the mean postoperative cardiothoracic ratio was 58.5% there was no postoperative deaths.
CONCLUSION
We canclude that the improvement in cardiothoracic ratio may result from surgical intervention of PDA.