Transcatheter occlusion of moderate to large patent arterial ducts, having a diameter above 2.5 mm, with the Amplatzer Duct Occluder. Comparisons with the Rashkind, buttoned devices, and coils in 116 consecutive patients.

AIM: To report results of transcatheter occlusion of moderate to large patent arterial ducts, having a minimum diameter above 2.5 mm, with the Amplatzer duct occluder, and to compare these with results achieved using Rashkind or Sideris devices and Cook detachable coils.

DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study conducted on intention-to-treat data from a tertiary referral centre.

PATIENTS: Since 1989, 116 consecutive patients, 77 females and 39 males, underwent percutaneous closure with several devices. We used the Rashkind double umbrella in 23 patients, the Sideris buttoned device in 39 patients, coils in 17 patients, and the Amplatzer duct occluder in 37 patients. The median age of the patients was 37 months, and the median weight 13 kg. The mean minimum diameter of the duct was 3.8 +/- 1.22 mm, with a median of 3.5 mm, and range from 2.5 to 10 mm.

RESULTS: Implantation succeeded in all but 9 of the children (92%). The time of fluoroscopy was shorter, and full occlusion was better as judged on angiography, in patients closed using the Amplatzer device, despite closure of larger ducts, than in patients closed using other devices (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0003, and p = 0.0015 for the Rashkind, Sideris, and coils, respectively). Complications included embolisation in 2 patients, and haemolysis in 3 patients. In 12 patients, a second device was inserted because of residual shunting noted during follow-up. Complete occlusion was achieved earlier after implantation (p = 0.0002), and the rate of complete occlusion was better in patients receiving an Amplatzer device (97%, p = 0.024) than in patients undergoing closure with other devices.

CONCLUSION: Transcatheter closure of moderate to large patent arterial ducts using the Amplatzer duct occluder is an effective and safe procedure, providing better results than those achieved using other occluders.