Outcomes of transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in 22 small-breed dogs using the Amplatzer™ Vascular Plug 4.

INTRODUCTION/

OBJECTIVES

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital heart disease in small-breed dogs. Small femoral vascular size is a limitation to transarterial occlusion using common Amplatzer™ Vascular Access Plug Type devices. The aim of the study was to determine if the Amplatzer™ Vascular Plug Type 4 (AVP4) can be delivered and provide short-term occlusion of a PDA in a reproducible and reliable manner. Complications associated with the AVP4 were documented.

ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Twenty-two small-breed dogs with a median (range) body weight of 1.94 kg (1.2-6.2 kg) were diagnosed with a left-to-right shunting PDA and had an AVP4 deployed via a femoral vascular approach between 2020 and 2023 at a single institution.

RESULTS

All 22 dogs underwent successful transcatheter deployment of an AVP4 device each to treat PDA. The most common angiographic PDA anatomy was Miller's type IIa (Krichenko type E) with a median (range) for the minimal ductal diameter of 1.5 mm (1-3.5 mm) and distal ductal diameter mean of 3.9 mm ( ± 0.99 mm). The AVP4 devices could be deployed via a 4-Fr angled diagnostic catheter with an internal diameter of 0.038". All dogs survived the procedure. The procedure was considered to have short-term success in 21 of the 22 dogs. One dog had moderate flow, necessitating surgical ligation. One dog had immediate AVP4 device pulmonary embolization without long-term consequences.

STUDY LIMITATIONS: This was a retrospective study with dog size preventing the use of transesophageal echocardiography and/or AVP4 postdeployment angiography.

CONCLUSIONS

The AVP4 demonstrates an effective and reproducible method for PDA transcatheter occlusion in small dogs using a favorably small delivery sheath.