Transcatheter closure of PDA in premature babies less than 2 kg

Our hypothesis was that percutaneous PDA closure in babies less than 2 kg was a safe and effective method. The aim of this study is to share our experience in transcatheter PDA closure in infants whose body weight is less than 2 kg in order to support our hypothesis.

Between July 1997 and October 2014, 382 percutaneous PDA closures were done in our center. Nineteen patients who weighed less than 2 kg were included in this retrospectively study. The other inclusion criteria were 1) being symptomatic and PDA was thought as a possible contributor of medical state and 2) persistence of PDA after medical closure treatment. Patients who had sepsis and bleeding diathesis were excluded. According to size and shape of PDA, different types of devices were used such as detachable coils and Amplatzer duct occluders. Data was expressed as mean (SD) or median (minimum-maximum). Comparisons of means and medians were performed with Student's t-test and with Mann-Whitney U test, respectively.

The median patient age and weight were 32 days and 1603 g (range 910-2000 g) respectively. Mean PDA diameter was 3.2±1.3 mm. Morphology of PDA was type A in 7 patients, type C in 10, type E in 1, and type B in 1 patient. There were no reported major complications. Stenosis of left pulmonary artery was detected in four patients, all of which resolved in 6 months follow-up.

Percutaneous PDA closure in babies less than 2 kg is a safe and effective method that can be an alternative to surgery. Main distinguishing feature of this study is that it includes the largest cohort of patients less than 2 kg whose PDA closed percutaneously.