[Endoluminal occlusion, using a catheter, of patent ductus arteriosus in an adult].

The risk of surgical closure of the ductus arteriosus in the adult is greater than in children. The ductus arteriosus can now be occluded by venous catheterisation using a Rashkind umbrella. This procedure vas performed in a 63 year old woman. The diagnosis was confirmed and the anatomy of the lesion defined by catheterisation with aortography. The patent ductus was then occluded with a balloon catheter to assess the reversibility of the pulmonary hypertension. A 17 mm Rashkind umbrella was then used to completely occlude the ductus. The advantages of the method over surgical closure are: absence of morbidity related to thoracotomy, to general anaesthesia, to blood transfusion and the reduction of hospital stay to 3 days.