Residual patent ductus arteriosus shunting after single Gianturco coil occluding

Transcatheter occlusion with Gianturco coils has become the treatment of choice for small patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Coil occlusion was attempted in 20 patients with ductus diameter less than 4 mm who did not require other cardiac surgery. Sixteen of 20 patients had successful implantation. The mean age was 4.2 years. Their mean weight was 14.1 +/- 5.9 kg. The mean ductus diameter was 2.21 +/- 0.91 mm (range 1-3.7 mm). Nine patients had complete occlusion but 7 had residual shunting immediately after the procedure. However, 4 patients had spontaneous resolution of residual shunts at 6 months after the procedure. The other 3 who had diameter of ductus greater than 3 mm still had significant residual shunt at 6 months and 1 year after the procedure. The second coil was successfully implanted in one of these 3 patients and the closure of PDA was accomplished. We concluded that the second coil should be implanted if the ductus diameter is greater than 3 mm and significant residual shunt is still demonstrated angiographically after the first coil implantation.