Initial experience of occluding special type patent ductus arterioses using the Amplatzer vascular plug

Background Occluders licensed for clinical use are not fit for some special Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses. The Amplatzer vascular plug I (AVP1) has not been licensed for use for closure of patent ductus arteriose. We report our initial experience to occluding special type patent ductus arterioses with the AVP1 a single lobe device of single layer Nitinol mesh for short vessel landing zones. Methods Patients referred with small and long Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses 1 mm to 3 mm in diameter underwent occlusion using AVP1. All cases underwent pre-, intra- and post-procedural echocardiography and chest X-ray at the completion of the procedure, the next day and at a 30-day, 3-month and 6-month follow-up visits. Device sizing for device waist diameter and length was based on aortography. Results From April 2008 to June 2012, 26 patients with a mean age of (7.6 +/- 8.0) years (range 6 months-32 years) and a mean weight of (23.8 +/- 14.8) kg (range 7-67 kg) underwent successful patent ductus arteriose closure. The mean ductus diameter was (2.1 +/- 0.7) mm (range 1-3 mm). Transpulmonary (22/26) and transaortic approaches (4/26) were used. No persistent patency was observed after 24 hours and after one month. No device displacement, residual flow and iatrogenic coarctation of the aorta were observed after three months and six months. Conclusions The AVP1 makes it easy to close some Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses. Smaller delivery catheter profile and symmetric cylindrical device shape allow for use for small and long Krichenko E patent ductus arterioses 1 mm to 3 mm in diameter and small patients through transaortic approaches. Broader experience is required to further delineate device and patient selection as well as to document its long-term efficacy and safety.