Ductus arteriosus stenting: A promising percutaneous palliation in patients with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation

We aimed to study the feasibility and outcomes of ductal stenting in patients with duct-dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF).

Duct-dependent hypoxic patients with confluent pulmonary artery (PA) branches were enrolled for ductal stenting and followed regularly.

Sixty patients, with a median age of 12 (1-1095) days and weight of 2.8 (2.2-8.9) kg, were enrolled. Median right PA (RPA) and left PA (LPA) Z-scores were -1.23 (-10.54 to 2.81) and -0.96 (-8.03 to 3.0), respectively. Mean narrowest ductal diameter was 1.73±0.57 mm and length was 12.78±3.32 mm. Sixty-four stents with mean diameter of 4.21±0.32 mm and length of 14.34±3.44 mm were deployed in 59 patients. The procedure was unsuccessful in one. Post-stenting mean oxygen saturation (SO₂) increased significantly from baseline of 68.88±7.47% to 90.43±6.04% (p<0001). Complications included pulmonary edema in one patient and acute stent occlusion in another. At a median follow-up of eight (2-14) months, mean SO₂ (80.04±7.54%) was significantly higher than baseline (p<0.0001). Median RPA and LPA Z-scores, 0.56 (-2.89 to 3.29) and -0.02 (-2.81 to 3.86), respectively, were significantly higher than baseline. Six patients required re-interventions (shunt in three and angioplasty in three). Six patients died, three due to sepsis and another three with worsened cyanosis due to impaired PBF, probably due to ductal occlusion.

Ductal stenting is an effective palliation in patients with duct-dependent PBF. It maintains adequate SO₂ and promotes balanced PA growth at mid-term follow-up.