SPRING COIL RETRACTION IN COIL OCCLUSION OF PERSISTENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS

Aims-To present the short and intermediate term results of coil occlus ion of persistent ductus arteriosus and the results of radiographic me asurements of spring coils implanted to treat patent ducts. Patients-2 2 children underwent coil occlusion. Their ages ranged from 2 years 9 months to 12 years 10 months (mean (SD) age, 6.5 (3.6) years). The duc t diameter ranged from 1.0 to 3.5 mm at the narrowest point (mean 2.6 (0.7) mm). In 11 of the children regular coils were implanted using th e non-attached system, while in the other 11 the detachable coil embol isation system was used. Results-12 children (55%) had no significant residual leaks immediately after procedures involving a single coil de livery. The remaining 10 (45%) had residual leaks immediately after th e procedure, although no patient with a large duct showed residual lea kage 18 months after the procedure. Radiographic measurement of the co ils showed that all implanted coils retracted to 65-85% of their origi nal size immediately after occlusion. This retraction was more evident in patients showing spontaneous closure of the residual shunt or havi ng a coil 8 mm in diameter. Conclusions-Coil embolisation is an accept able method for occluding persistent ductus arteriosus. Retraction of implanted coils is common in the follow up period. Such retraction may be related to spontaneous closure of residual shunt after embolisatio n.