ranscatheter occlusion of a small ductus arteriosus is now commonly performed in children. However, there are only a small number of reports of transcatheter coil embolization of adult patent ductus arteriosus (PDAs). We attempted to occlude large PDAs in 3 adult patients with Cook detachable coils and we report the usefulness and problems of such a procedure.
Case Reports
Case 1A 58-year-old woman had exertional dyspnea and chest discomfort. On physical examination, she had a bounding peripheral pulse and a grade 2/6 continuous murmur at the left upper sternal border. Conventional 2-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated left ventricular and atrial enlargement, and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 71%. On color Doppler echocardiography, left-to-right PDA shunt flow was visible. On transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) the minimal diameter of the PDA was 5 mm. Informed consent for coil embolization was obtained.Right-and left-heart catheterization was performed and an oxygen step-up of the blood samples was detected at the pulmonary artery level.Aortography in the left anterior oblique projection revealed a funnel-shaped PDA (type A1) with a minimal diameter being 5.2 mm (Fig 1A). Following aortography, a 0.032-inch guidewire was advanced retrogradely from the aorta through the PDA into the pulmonary artery, and another guidewire of the same size was advanced anterogradely from the pulmonary artery through the PDA into the aorta. A 6F multipurpose catheter was advanced anterogradely and the guidewire was then removed. A 5-loop coil of 8 mm in diameter was delivered successfully into the PDA. Next, when another 6-F multipurpose catheter was inserted retrogradely, the prepositioned coil was dislodged into the main pulmonary artery. The coil was then successfully retrieved by a snare. Two multipurpose catheters were once more advanced through the PDA, one retrogradely and the other anterogradely. A 5-loop coil of 8 mm in diameter was delivered into the PDA anterogradely. Without detaching the coil, another 5-loop coil of 5 mm in diameter was sequentially delivered retrogradely. Aortography revealed slight residual flow (Fig 1B). Because of the risk of coil migration and the possibility of spontaneous complete closure of the PDA, no additional coiling was attempted and the 2 coils were then detached.The next day, a slight residual shunt was observed on color Doppler echocardiography. However, the patient's exertional dyspnea and chest discomfort disappeared. During her stay in hospital, her urine was not dark colored, and blood chemistry for hemolysis was not examined. Six months after the first procedure, a hematological examination revealed severe hemolytic anemia (Table 1). Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a smaller left ventricle and left atrium than that of 6 months previous (Table 2). On the transthoracic and transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography, a residual left-to-right PDA shunt flow was visible. The hemolysis was thought to be due to the shunt, and the patient underwent a sec...