Severe intravascular hemolysis after transcatheter coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus

Severe intravascular hemolysis is a rare complication of transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). It is thought to be secondary to red blood cell damage from a high-velocity jet from a residual shunt. However, only a small minority of patients with a residual shunt develop this complication. We report a case of intravascular hemolysis after partial coil occlusion of a PDA in which the Dacron strands were stripped off the coils during bioptome-assisted deployment. The exposure of the blood flow jet to bare metallic coils may have contributed to the occurrence of the severe hemolysis.