Transcatheter vascular occlusion of the small patent ductus arteriosus: an alternative method.

The current strategies concerning a small (</=2 mm) patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) include surgical ligation, transcatheter implantation of the Rashkind occluder device, or no intervention requiring indefinite endocarditis precautions. Five patients have undergone successful transcatheter closure of a small-caliber PDA utilizing a single 3 mm Gianturco occluder coil as an alternative to surgical ligation. The coil was delivered to traverse the narrowest dimension of the PDA, leaving loops of coil in both the pulmonary and aortic ends of the ductus. All PDAs were successfully occluded, and the duration of hospitalization for all patients was 1 day. At latest follow-up (11 +/- 2 months), echocardiography demonstrates complete ductus occlusion in all patients, with no obstruction to left pulmonary arterial or descending aortic flow. Transcatheter coil occlusion of the small ductus is an easily accomplished, safe, effective alternative to surgical ligation, thereby avoiding a lateral thoracotomy incision, shortening hospitalization, and reducing costs.