[The closure with a double-umbrella prosthesis of recanalized ducts after surgical ligation]

Four patients of 5, 27, 27 and 62 years of age, who previously underwent surgical ligation of ductus arteriosus (respectively 3, 17, 19 and 17 years before), came to our observation because of recanalization of the duct. In three cases the duct was an isolated finding, whereas in the oldest patient the duct ligation had been accompanied by implantation of a Starr prosthesis in aortic position. The diagnosis of residual shunt was based on the auscultation of a continuous murmur at the left subclavicular space and on typical signs of patent ductus evidenced by Doppler interrogation. In all cases the diagnosis was confirmed by angiography; the minimal diameter of the ducts varied between 2.5 and 4 mm. Three umbrellas of 17 mm and one of 12 mm diameter were employed for the closure of the residual shunt. The implantation of the double-umbrella device was obtained with the routine transfemoral venous approach. In the youngest patient, in order to facilitate the progression of the transseptal catheter through the duct, it was necessary to create a circuit with the guide wire from the femoral vein to the contralateral femoral artery. In all four patients the shunt was completely abolished. The oldest patient underwent replacement of a malfunctioning aortic prosthesis three days after implantation of the double-umbrella device; the surgical approach was this way significantly simplified. The implantation of a Rashkind double-umbrella device is the method of choice for closure of residual shunts through the duct after surgical ligation.