Transcatheter closure of the patent ductus arteriosus: Comparison between the Rashkind occluder device and the anterograde Gianturco coils technique

Thirty-five patients (mean age 43.7 months, mean weight 13 kg) underwent anterograde patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion with Gianturco coils (coil group). These patients were compared with 35 age- and weight-matched patients who underwent closure of their PDA with the Rashkind umbrella device (device group). The mean PDA diameter at its narrowest point was 2.8 mm in the coil group and 2.7 mm in the device group. There was immediate closure angiographically in 20 (57%) of 35 in the coil group compared with 9 (26%) of 35 for the device group. Color flow mapping before discharge revealed complete closure in 30 (86%) of 35 in the coil group compared with 18 (51%) of 35 in the device group (chi square = 9.5455, p < 0.005). Mean fluoroscopy time was 18.5 minutes (median 13.5 minutes) and 14.7 minutes (median 13 minutes) for the coil and device, respectively. Four coils and one device embolized down the pulmonary artery; all were successfully retrieved in the catheterization lab. Coil closure of the small to moderate PDA is safe and effective. It is more effective in achieving immediate closure than the Rashkind device. More clinical trials with the coil technique are warranted to establish the long-term results of this technique.