Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure: what have we learned after over 25 years? A single-­center experience with 1036 patients

Abstract

Background: Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure has become the first‑choice method of treatment in the majority of patients. However, device selection poses a challenge.

Aims: This study aimed to analyze periprocedural and 1‑year outcomes of PDA transcatheter closure performed with different devices throughout a 25‑year time period in a single center.

Methods: All 1036 patients who underwent transcatheter PDA closure between 1993 and 2020 were included in retrospective analysis. Various devices were used: the Rashkind device (RD; n = 25), coils (n = 469), nitinol duct occluders type I (DO I; n = 300), type II (n = 32), type II additional sizes (ADO II AS; n = 209), as well as off‑label devices: vascular plugs and atrial septal and muscular ventricular septal defect occluders (n = 17). Data on 24‑hour and 1‑year follow‑up were available for 100% and 78.9% of the study patients, respectively.

Results: The procedure was successful in 98.6% of the study patients, with a major complication rate of 0.2%. Complete PDA closure after a year was observed in 81.8% of the patients treated with RD, 93.7% of those with coils, and 100% of those with duct occluders. There were no differences between Amplatzer DO I (n = 159) and its DO I copies manufactured in China (n = 141) with regard to success, efficacy, and complication rates. Recently, ADO II AS has replaced coils and become the preferred device to close small‑to‑moderate PDA.

Conclusions: Transcatheter PDA closure with all types of nitinol duct occluders is safe and effective, with no residual shunting at 1‑year follow‑up. Due to higher efficacy, ADO II AS has replaced coils in the treatment of smaller PDA.