Coil occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus: lessons learned.
OBJECTIVE
To review the clinical outcomes of catheter-directed coil occlusion (coil occlusion) of persistently patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) at a pediatric tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all patients referred to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory for coil occlusion at our institution was performed. Twenty-one consecutive patients (12 female) underwent coil occlusion and follow-up between May 1995 and December 1997. We undertook PDA occlusion if: (a) the PDA narrowed to less than 4 mm on echocardiogram and (b) the minimum body weight was approximately 10 kg. Standard right and retrograde left heart catheterization was performed, followed by coil occlusion. Color-flow mapping (CFM) was used intra-procedurally to confirm occlusion of the PDA with a follow-up study several weeks later.


RESULTS
The median age and weight of the patients were 33 months and 13.2 kg, respectively. Fourteen patients received one coil, with six requiring a second coil and one requiring multiple coils. Initial follow-up was at a median of 2.4 months. At latest follow-up, 2 patients still have persistent flow at the ductal level. The coils were deployed without complication or embolization.


CONCLUSIONS
A review of our first 21 cases demonstrated three important lessons: (1) the maximum diameter of the PDA suitable for coil occlusion is approximately 3 mm; (2) CFM must show complete obliteration of flow in the catheterization lab in order to ensure occlusion of the PDA at follow-up; and (3) the Jackson detachable system allows for precise placement of the coil, often within another coil.
Sanatani
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Potts
J E
JE
Ryan
A
A
Sandor
G G
GG
Human
D G
DG
Culham
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D002404:Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male