OCCLUSION OF THE NEONATAL PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS WITH A SIMPLE RETRIEVABLE DEVICE - A FEASIBILITY STUDY

Purpose: To examine the feasibility of transvenous placement of a new memory-shaped, small, retrievable coil that has a smaller-caliber deli very system than currently available devices, for closure of the paten t ductus arteriosus (PDA). Methods: Through 4 or 5 Fr vascular sheaths and 4 or 5 Fr end-hold catheters, the coils were delivered and placed in piglets (n = 10) with PDA. The coils were made from 0.018'' (0.46 mm) or 0.028'' (0.71 mm) stainless steel guidewire. Mounted for delive ry, the new device has the appearance of a conventional guidewire. Thi s neonatal PDA model was created without major surgery or drugs by ste nting the ductus arteriosus. Results: The memory-shaped coils were eas ily delivered. Coils not optimally placed were retrieved and repositio ned. Occlusion of the ductus arteriosus as early as a half-hour after delivery was shown angiographically and confirmed by histopathology. C onclusion: This new, small-caliber, simple device was found to be effe ctive for closure of the PDA in this animal model. Longer-term observa tions are needed.