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Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
Published on: February 8, 2022
Changes in left ventricular systolic function after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure in premature
Aravinth Karunanandaa1,2, Joseph Paolillo1, Amanda Cook1
1Division of Cardiology, Atrium Health Levine Children's Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Background:
Changes in left ventricular (LV) systolic function have not been well described in premature neonates after transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure.
Methods And Results:
We retrospectively identified all premature neonates < 3 kg who underwent a transcatheter PDA closure at our center between January 1 2015 and January 31, 2021. LV indices before and after closure were extracted and an analysis was performed. Overall, 23 neonates were included with a mean procedural weight of 1894 ± 622 g. At 24 h after closure, the median left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (66% interquartile range [IQR] 12% vs. 61% IQR 12, P< 0.001) and median LV end-diastolic dimension z-score (3.3 IQR 1.8 vs. 1.4 IQR 2.6, P < 0.001) both decreased and 5 (22%) neonates had an LVEF <55%. Patients who had an LVEF <55% at 24 h had a higher preprocedure LV end-diastolic dimension z-score (4.2 IQR 1.2 vs. 2.8 IQR 1.6, P = 0.01), a higher preprocedure LV end-diastolic volume (19 mL IQR 4 mL vs. 11 mL IQR 11, P = 0.03), a higher birth weight (940 g IQR 100 g vs. 760 g IQR 140, P = 0.04), and were more likely to receive intravenous calcium during the procedure (60% vs. 11%, P = 0.04) compared to those with an LVEF ≥55% at 24 h after closure. Of those with LVEF <55% at 24 h, all normalized before discharge.
Conclusion:
In preterm neonates who underwent successful transcatheter PDA closure, 23% developed abnormal LVEF after closure and those with significant LV dilation before the procedure were at increased risk for the development of LVEF <55% after closure.

