Long term patency of the ductus arteriosus after stent placement: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Stent placement in the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is becoming an alternative treatment to improve cardiac function and quality of life in patients with ductal dependent cardiac conditions. Although, today most of these cardiac defects can be surgically corrected without the need of maintaining PDA patency for a long period of time, some countries lack the resources, and in other cases, surgical intervention is preferably delayed due to medical reasons. This report presents 2 cases where stents were placed in the PDA.