OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (hsPDA), and the indications of percutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusion.

METHODThe data of a preterm infant admitted to West China Second Hospital in December. 2013, who finally underwent percutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusion were analyzed With the key words of"preterm"patent ductus arteriosus"transcatheter", Pubmed were searched and potentially relevant reports were retrieved and assessed by manual sorting from 2005 to 2015. Relevant reports in literature were reviewed.

RESULTA preterm infnat at gestational age of 35 weeks with birth weight of 1 900 g was admitted to our department. Oral ibuprofen for closure of the patent ductus arteriosus failed, and the patient exhibited the features of"ventilator dependent"PDA of premature infants. On the 30th postnatal day, with the body weight of 1 950 g, under basal anesthesia, the infant underwent percutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusion, and the procedure successfully occluded the ductus with Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO). The ventilator was weaned 19 hours post procedure, and the child was discharged 7 days post operation with good recovery, and her growth and development was good. Follow-up for 13 months indicated that the intelligence and physical development evaluated by Bayley scales of infant development test were at the same level of normal age-matched infants. Fifty-two preterm infants treated with percutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusion in 8 reports were enrolled. The preterm infants were born at 23-35 gestational weeks, with PDA diameter of 1-4 mm. The occlusive device included coil, ADO, ADO Ⅱ, ADO Ⅱ AS, AVP Ⅱ and AVP Ⅳ respectively, with body weight of 870-2 610 g on operational days and age of 11-90 postnatal days. All those infants either failed or had contraindications to drug therapy, and exhibited as hsPDA cases. Percutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusions were performed successfully in all 52 cases, and there were no serious procedure-related complications.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous transcatheter PDA occlusion in preterm infants is feasible and showed positive short-term and long-term effects, which provides an important alternative way for patients with the problem. The indications for transcatheter PDA occlusion include premature infants with hsPDA in whom drug therapy failed or is contraindicated.