[Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus with Rashkind's occluder. Experience during 3.7 years]

Thirty eight transcatheter umbrella closure (TUC) of a persistently patent ductus arteriosus using the Rashkind umbrella occluder (USCI), were attempted in thirty four patients. Mean age 8.5 +/- 9.0 years (range 1.5 to 31). Internal diameter of ductus arteriosus (DA) average 4.0 +/- 1.5 mm (range 2 to 9 mm). Successful implantation was achieved in 36 procedures (94.7%). Complete closure immediately postimplantation was achieved in 15 (45.4%), 12 (36.3%) had trivial and 6 (18.1%) severe residual shunt. In four cases we implanted successfully a second device. At the follow-up (average 24 months) in 31 patients, 87.0% (n = 27) had complete closure and 96.7% (n = 30) did not need another intervention. Device embolization to distal left pulmonary artery occurred in two cases (5.2%), one was retrieved by surgery and in the other case it was allowed to remain. No mortality was observed. This results confirm the efficacy, with low morbidity and no mortality of TUC, especially in those with smaller PDA (< 4 mm).