Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug in 31 dogs.

BACKGROUND

Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug was first reported in dogs by Hogan et al in 2005.

HYPOTHESIS: Use of the Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe, efficacious method of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion.

ANIMALS: Thirty-one client-owned dogs with PDA.

METHODS

Records of 31 dogs in which transarterial occlusion of PDA with an Amplatzer vascular plug was attempted were reviewed.

RESULTS

All dogs had a type II PDA, with 27 dogs having type IIA morphology and 4 dogs having type IIB morphology. Appropriate device deployment was achieved in 29 of 31 dogs. Postdeployment angiography in 21 dogs documented complete occlusion in 10 dogs, trivial residual flow in 5 dogs, mild residual flow in 2 dogs, moderate residual flow in 3 dogs, and severe residual flow in 1 dog. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography documented complete occlusion in 22 dogs, whereas 2 dogs had trivial residual flow, 2 dogs had mild residual flow, 2 dogs had mild to moderate residual flow, and 1 dog had severe residual flow. Of the 7 dogs with residual flow, 2 had complete occlusion 2-4 months postoperatively, 1 had moderate residual flow 1 month postoperatively, and 4 were lost to follow-up. One dog required a larger device than was able to be deployed through the largest sheath placed in the femoral artery. Pulmonary embolization of the device occurred in 1 dog.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that ductal occlusion with an Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe and efficacious therapy for PDA in dogs.