Persistent ductus arteriosus in the adult: clinical features and experience with percutaneous closure

Persistent ductus arteriosus in the adult carries a risk for becoming symptomatic with dyspnoea or palpitations, developing infective endarteritis, and finally for developing pulmonary hypertension with ensuing heart failure morbidity and mortality. Surgical closure is considered more and more to be outdated as first choice treatment since percutaneous closure is a safe and effective alternative. Only the Eisenmenger syndrome remains a clear contra-indication for closure, whether surgical or interventional. We report on our own experience in nine patients with persistent ductus arteriosus including eight cases who underwent percutaneous closure and one patient with Eisenmenger syndrome. In addition, our experience with clinical features and therapeutic modalities is related to the literature.