Interruption of patent ductus arteriosus in children: robotically assisted versus videothoracoscopic surgery.

Objectives: If robotic surgery is to be widely used, the risks must be equivalent to those of standard techniques. This study analyzes the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of a robotically assisted technique for patent ductus arteriosus closure and compares the results with those of the videothoracoscopic technique.

Methods: During 2000, 56 children weighing 2.