Mechanical occlusion of the patent ductus arteriosus with Jackson coils

The effectiveness and safety of a protocol for transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure was assessed. Our goal is complete mechanical occlusion of the PDA in the catheterization laboratory by adding coils until it is no longer possible to cross the PDA with a guidewire. Detachable coil closure of a PDA with a narrowest diameter of 2.4 +/- 0.1 mm was attempted in 83 patients with a median age of 2.8 years (0.7 to 27.8 years) and whose median weight was 14.5 kg (6 to 61.6 kg). Coils were successfully implanted in 82 of 83 patients, and in 1 patient a large Rashkind double umbrella was used instead. Complete closure was obtained in 80 (97.6%) patients, 48 of those (59%) received more than one coil. Reintervention for residual shunting was required in only 1 patient and another patient has a trivial residual shunt. Device embolization occurred in three cases. Despite the use of multiple coils there was no evidence of significant left pulmonary artery stenosis. The fluoroscopy time increased from 14.0 +/- 2.0 minutes for a single coil to 25.3 +/- 2.9 minutes for multiple coils (p < 0.01). Attempting to obtain complete mechanical occlusion of the PDA during the implant procedure by adding extra coils reduces the need for reintervention for residual or recurrent shunting.