COIL OCCLUSION FOR PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS IN JAPAN

We surveyed Japanese experience of coil occlusion of patent ductus art eriosus up to 30 September 1996 by sending questionnaires to 175 hospi tals. Thirty-four hospitals reported outcome data for 231 procedures i n 218 patients. Successful implantation was achieved in 94% and acute complete closure of the ductus occurred in 71% of those in whom implan tation of the coil was successful. Of the latter, 83% reported late co mplete closure. When those patients who underwent reocclusion for resi dual shunt are included, 89% attained complete closure. No life-threat ening complications have occurred so far. Late reopening was reported in 3 cases. Although the angiographic type of ductus was significantly related to successful implantation (p<0.01), there was no significant correlation with complete occlusion. Ductuses with a minimum diameter greater than 3 mm had a decreased chance of successful implantation, whereas those less than 2 mm had a greater incidence of complete closu re.