Persistent ductus arteriosus in Malaysian patients.

The importance of ductus arteriosus in prenatal life is well known. Its continued patency in postnatal life and its deleterious effects on the normal life span of an individual have been reported upon by Maude Abbott (1927). During the 12-year period from May I958 to April I970, I94 patients underwent an operation for persistent ductus arteriosus. In ii of them there were errors of diagnosis which are described under the results of operation. Table i shows the age, sex, and race distribution in the I83 patients who actually had ductal interruption. Malaysia is a multiracial country consisting of equal numbers of Malays and Chinese and about I0 per cent of Indians. It shows also the characteristic female preponderance.