OBJECTIVETo study the clinical efficiency of transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using Amplatzer ductal occluder in children.

METHODSA retrospective review was performed for 227 children with large PDA, including 63 cases with pulmonary artery hypertension. All cases accepted the transcatheter closure using Amplatzer ductal occluders. The median age of the patients was 3.2 years, and the median weight was 10.6 kg. The median of the narrowest diameter of arterial ducts was 5.7 mm.

RESULTSSuccessful occlusion was achieved in 216 (95.2%) of the 227 cases. The mean pulmonary artery pressure in children with pulmonary artery hypertension decreased from 45±19 mm Hg before operation to 22±12 mm Hg after operation (P<0.05). In the 216 children achieving a successful occlusion, 109 children (50.5%) showed a complete occlusion immediately after operation by aortography and 181 children (83.8%) showed a complete occlusion by echocardiography 24 hrs after operation. No residual shunt was found in children who achieved a successful occlusion according to the results of echocardiography 6 and 12 months after operation.

CONCLUSIONSThe transcatheter occlusion of large PDA using Amplatzer ductal occluders is effective and safe in children.