Surgical Versus Percutaneous Closure of PDA in Preterm Infants: Procedural Charges and Outcomes

Studies comparing percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with surgical ligation tend to exclude premature infants and have not assessed procedural charges. We compared our contemporary outcomes and charges of device closure to surgical ligation of PDA in preterm infants. Preterm infants who underwent isolated PDA closure during their newborn hospitalization (January 2014 to September 2017) were grouped based on intention to treat (surgery versus device closure). Patient demographics, procedural details, and immediate postprocedural outcomes were compared. Procedural charges for device closure versus surgical ligation were compared. Compared with the device group (n = 33), patients undergoing surgical ligation (n = 39) were younger, smaller, and required more preoperative support (P