Midterm Outcome of Stent Dilatation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Ductal‐dependent Pulmonary Circulation

Objective. We sought to assess the outcome of transcatheter ductus arteriosus stenting in newborns with ductal‐dependent pulmonary circulation. Background. Better results of ductal stenting have been reported using stents with better scaffolding and ensuring stenting of the entire length of the ductus arteriosus. Methods. Twenty‐one patients with ductal‐dependent pulmonary circulation were brought to the catheterization laboratory for ductal stenting. Five patients did not qualify because of a complex tortuous ductus arteriosus or branch pulmonary artery stenosis. Stent implantation was successful in 14 patients. The duct was accessed with a 0.014‐inch guidewire. A low profile premounted coronary stent was implanted in the duct without using a long delivery sheath. Attempts were made to cover the entire length of the ductus arteriosus. Results. The mean age of the patients at the time of stent implantation was 24 ± 17.5 days. The mean body weight was 2.9 ± 0.35 kg. The ductus was mildly tortuous in four, moderately tortuous in four, conical in four, and vertical in four patients. Ductal stenting was successful in 14 patients. The mean ductal diameter was 3.9 ± 0.5 mm. The mean diameter and the length of the stent implanted were 3.9 ± 0.72 and 15.4 ± 3.16 mm, respectively. Mean fluoroscopy and procedure times were 22.16 ± 12.5 and 107.9 ± 34.5 minutes, respectively. Out of the 14 successful stent implantations, the ductus arteriosus was not completely covered with the stent in five patients at the time of primary procedure, four of them required re‐stenting for significant desaturation. One of these patients died despite successful re‐stenting. Another patient died due to aspiration pneumonia. Of the 12 survivors, five underwent Glenn shunt (two deaths related to pulmonary hypertension), two underwent biventricular repair, one patient was lost to follow‐up, and the remaining four are doing well with a mean oxygen saturation of 85% at a mean follow‐up of 13 ± 6 months. Conclusion. Stenting of ductus arteriosus, including moderately tortuous ducts, is a safe palliation for patients with ductal‐dependent pulmonary circulation. Incomplete stenting of the duct invariably results in ductal stenosis and compromised pulmonary flow.     

Stent implantation of the arterial duct in newborns with duct-dependent circulation

Aims Little is known about the medium term results after stentingof the arterial duct in neonates and infants with duct-dependentcyanotic congenital heart disease. We report the results ofstent implantation of the arterial duct in 21 neonates and infants.The defects for which the arterial duct was stented includedpulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, critical pulmonarystenosis, and more complex defects with associated reduced pulmonaryblood flow. Methods and Results Palmaz stents were used and successfully implanted in all the21 patients. There were no major complications during the stentimplantation procedure although two hospital deaths occurred2 and 14 days after stent implantation. Cardiac catheterizationwas repeated electively 3 to 6 months after stent implantation.Stent stenosis due to intimal proliferation was noted in 11/13patients who underwent recatheterization. Stenosis of the innerstent lumen ranged from 25% to 100%, mean 74%. Re-dilatationof the stent was required in five patients who were awaitingcorrective surgery. In babies with pulmonary atresia or criticalpulmonary stenosis, who also underwent additional balloon dilatationof the pulmonary valve, spontaneous closure of the stented arterialduct was well tolerated and when it occurred, the right ventricularsize had increased and the circulation was no longer duct-dependent.In patients who required subsequent surgical corrective treatment,stenting of the duct allowed the definite corrective operationto be performed as the first surgical procedure. During thefollow-up period, ranging between 2 months and 2 years, mean8·7 months increased growth of the pulmonary arterieswas seen in all the patients. No distortion of the branch pulmonaryarteries was seen. Conclusion In patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease stentingof the arterial duct is an effective alternative to surgicalaorto-pulmonary shunts.     

Transcatheter stenting of the ductus arteriosus: evaluation as an alternative to surgical shunts

Implantation of 3.5 mm Gianturco-Roubin coronary artery stents into the ductus arteriosus was evaluated as an alternative to surgical systemic to pulmonary arterial shunts in 3 weanling piglets. Thrombosis of the ductus occurred in all 3 animals (95% confidence limits 29-100%) within 1 hour, despite pretreatment with heparin. In each case, thrombus filled the ductus arteriosus but did not extend to any extraductal portion of the stents. Rapid, heparin-resistant thrombus formation precludes use of this stent procedure as an alternative to surgical shunts.     

Stent angioplasty to relieve left pulmonary artery obstruction caused by patent ductus arteriosus device occlusion

A 7‐month‐old patient in congestive heart failure due to a moderate sized patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) underwent uncomplicated implantation of an Amplatzer Ductal Occluder (ADO1). Two months after percutaneous device PDA closure, left pulmonary artery (LPA) stenosis was discovered. Rather than spontaneous improvement as reported in previous cases, our patient's LPA stenosis progressed in severity 7 months after ADO1 placement. A catheterization demonstrated a 32 mm Hg peak gradient from her main pulmonary artery to her LPA. She underwent successful stent angioplasty of her LPA with an excellent result and preserved PDA closure. This case demonstrates that stent angioplasty is a feasible an effective method of relieving LPA obstruction caused by a PDA occluder device. Additionally, despite slight deflection by the stent, the ADO1 device continued to provide complete ductal closure. Stent angioplasty should be considered in patients who have LPA stenosis caused by ADO1 occluder device that does not improve over time. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

New approach to quantitative angiographic assessment after stent implantation

The new generation quantitative angiographic systems apply the interpolated technique to calculate the reference diameter at the site of the stenosis by integrating measurements of the segments proximal and distal to the stenosis. After stent implantation these measurements can be misleading as the treated segment, which is frequently larger than the adjacent not stented segments, is included in the measurements. The consequence is an overestimation of the reference diameter and the residual diameter stenosis. The present study was performed to compare this conventional technique of measurement with a new method which excludes the stented segment for the calculation of the reference diameter. Fifty-two lesions treated with poorly radiopaque stents (56% Palmaz-Schatz, 28% NIR, 10% Gianturco-Roubin, 6% Wallstent) expanded at high pressure (≥ 16 atm) were analyzed according to the conventional and stent excluded method. After stent implantation the reference diameter was 3.39 ± 0.48 mm with conventional measurements and 3.02 ± 0.45 mm with the stent excluded method (P < 0.05). The corresponding % diameter stenosis was 13 ± 9 for the conventional technique and 1 ± 13 for the stent excluded analysis (P < 0.05). The new approach to quantitative calculations and allows a more appropriate matching of stented segments with adjacent normal segments. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 40:343–347, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Stent implantation in right-sided patent ductus arteriosus to relieve severe cyanosis in adult patient with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect.

Patients with unrepaired pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect may develop stenosis of collaterals or shunts to the pulmonary arteries leading to hypoperfusion of lungs and systemic hypoxemia. A 25-year-old female with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect presented with progressively increasing cyanosis and exercise intolerance. A restrictive right-sided patent ductus arteriosus was identified as the main source of pulmonary blood flow. We report transcatheter implantation of a balloon-expandable stent across the stenosed duct to augment the pulmonary blood flow as a palliative management option. Patient had immediate improvement in arterial oxygen saturation from 66% to 85% with excellent clinical improvement and stable oxygen saturation on 8 months of follow-up.     

Stenting of the obstructed ductus venosus as emergency and bridging strategy in a very low birth weight infant with infradiaphragmatic total anomalous pulmonary venous connection

A very low birth weight neonate (1.2 kg) with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and obstructed infracardiac pulmonary venous drainage was treated by stenting of the ductus venosus via a transjugular approach. With one reintervention to dilate an in‐stent stenosis, the palliative stented situation stabilized the patient for as long as three months until definitive surgical correction at a weight of 2 kg. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ductus arteriosus patency with stenting in critical pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary atresia with intact interventricular septum

We report our experience with stenting of the ductus arteriosus in three neonates. Two patients had pulmonary atresia with an intact interventricular septum and one had critical pulmonary stenosis. Radiofrequency ablation was used to open the atretic pulmonary valve in two patients. In all three patients implanting a stent avoided the need for surgical creation of a Blalock-Taussig shunt. In two patients the procedure was scheduled as elective surgery, and in one it was done as an emergency procedure. Ductus arteriosus stenting is an alternative to palliative cardiac surgery.     

Echocardiographic evaluation of the spectrum of cardiac anomalies associated with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18

To investigate the role that cardiac anomalies play in the early death frequently seen in the trisomy 13 and the trisomy 18 syndromes, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiograms from 31 newborn infants with cytogenetic confirmation of these syndromes seen at one institution over a 4.5 year period (1983 to 1988) were reviewed. The mean age at echocardiography was 1.5 days, and the median age at death was 14 days. Significant cyanosis was present in 58%. Cardiac anomalies that would be considered lethal within the neonatal period were present in only 19% of patients. The most common lesions were atrial septal defect (81%), ventricular septal defect (61%) and patent ductus arteriosus (85%). Most ventricular septal defects and patent ductus arteriosus were large. Valvular dysplasia of one or more valves, graded as mild in most cases, was found in 68%, but was not associated with Doppler evidence of significant regurgitation or stenosis in any subject. Of the four valves, the pulmonary valve, followed by the tricuspid valve, was the most commonly dysplastic. Doppler evidence suggestive of elevated pulmonary artery pressure (low velocity bidirectional flow across the ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus), although expected, was accompanied by greater than normal mean right ventricular cavity and free wall dimensions in these patients. Thus, although the cardiac anomalies most frequently encountered in trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 are nonlethal, the combined findings of frequent cyanosis and increased right ventricular dimensions suggest that other factors such as pulmonary hypertension, perhaps related to maldevelopment of the pulmonary vasculature, may contribute to early death in some of these infants.     

Parachute mitral valve in a young adult with recurrent pulmonary oedema

A parachute mitral valve is a rare congenital malformation resulting from fusion of the mitral chordae tendineae and their attachment to the one prominent papillary muscle. It can be found either as an isolated lesion or, more often, associated with left heart obstructive lesions, patent ductus arteriosus or ventricular septal defect. Congenital mitral stenosis usually presents with severe symptoms in early childhood, otherwise remains stable and hardly ever requires surgical intervention. We present a case of a young adult with severe stenosis of a parachute mitral valve and history of recurrent pulmonary oedema treated by mitral commissurotomy.     

A neonate with mitral stenosis due to accessory mitral valve,ventricular septal defect,and patent ductus arteriosus: changes in echocardiographical findings during the neonatal period

 A female neonate with mitral stenosis due to accessory mitral valve with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus is described. She was referred to our hospital because of neonatal asphyxia. Asphyxia was improved by ventilator support, but rapid deterioration of respiration with pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage appeared 8 days after birth. Echocardiography revealed an accessory mitral valve attached to the anterior mitral leaflet with a perimembranous ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. Although there were no echocardiographical findings indicating mitral stenosis on admission, the mitral stenosis blood flow patterns were detected by color and pulsed Doppler examination performed on the eighth day after admission. Transaortic resection of accessory mitral valve tissue was performed with patch closure of the ventricular septal defect and ligation of the ductus arteriosus 35 days after birth. After operation, pulmonary congestion and hemorrhage were improved. Postoperative echocardiography showed complete resection of the accessory mitral valve and no mitral insufficiency. We concluded that the combination of the accessory mitral valve and left-to-right shunt due to ventricular septal defect or patent ducturs arteriosus might have led to a critical hemodynamic condition due to relative mitral stenosis in the neonatal period with the decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance. Received: May 30, 2002 / Accepted: September 6, 2002 Correspondence to T. Ito     

Successful placement and re-expansion of a new balloon expandable stent to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus in a newborn animal model

Objective: We performed this study in order to evaluate the usefulness of a new balloon expandable stent for maintaining ductal patency in a neonatal piglet model and to evaluate the ability to re-expand the stent weeks following initial implantation. Background: Maintaining patency of the ductus arteriosus without administration of Prostaglandin E has been reported previously using balloon dilation and stent implantation techniques. However, the experience is limited and the currently available stents are not modified for neonates. Methods: 14 newborn piglets all at age 12 days and median weight 3.6 Kg (range 2.7-4.3 Kg), underwent initial balloon dilation of the ductus arteriosus. Angiography after dilation demonstrated no significant left to right shunt. All piglets underwent successful stent (3.5 mm x 17 mm) placement in the ductus arteriosus. Results: Percutaneous ductal stent implantation via the arterial route was successful in all piglets with angiographic demonstration of a significant left to right shunt. Follow-up studies at weekly intervals with color flow Doppler were used to confirm patency of the stents. In 3 piglets the stent was not patent at initial follow-up and autopsy revealed sub-optimal stent placement. In two animals the stent was later re-expanded to 4 mm at 22 days, in one to 4 mm at 30 days and in one to 6 mm at 15 days, maintaining flow for an additional period of 15 to 34 days.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Absent pulmonary valve or pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum: Which is it?

A fetal echocardiogram noted valvar pulmonary atresia vs critical pulmonary valve stenosis, confluent pulmonary arteries, patent ductus arteriosus, and an apical muscular ventricular septal defect vs coronary sinusoid. Postnatal echocardiogram documented an absent pulmonary valve, coronary artery fistula to the right ventricle, confluent pulmonary arteries, and a patent ductus arteriosus. Catheterization confirmed the postnatal echocardiographic findings except there was no antegrade flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary arteries. Close evaluation of all imaging modalities revealed the final diagnosis of absent pulmonary valve with a double-chambered right ventricle with no egress from the right ventricle to pulmonary artery.     

Stent implantation for coarctation of aorta caused by a Rashkind patent ductus arteriosus umbrella.

This case demonstrates a novel use of stent implantation for relief of coarctation of the aorta caused by protrusion of a Rashkind patent ductus arteriosus umbrella. Follow-up 3 years after stent implantation shows complete relief of obstruction.     

Pulmonary Artery Stent Implantation in Children with Single Ventricle Malformation Before and After Completion of Partial and Total Cavopulmonary Connections

Objectives: Relief of pulmonary artery stenosis before and after cavopulmonary connections (CPC) in patients with single ventricle malformation is essential to optimize pulmonary hemodynamics. We evaluated the risk factors for pulmonary artery stenosis and assessed the outcome after stent implantation .
Interventions: Seventeen stents in twelve patients were implanted for pulmonary artery stenosis before and after CPC at a mean age of 4.5 (0.1–17.6) years.
Results: Fourteen stents were placed in the left pulmonary artery (82%) and three stents in the right pulmonary artery (18%). One stent was implanted intraoperatively. Mean time between surgery and stent implantation was 28 (1–132) months. The mean (SD) size of the pulmonary artery stenosis was 3.1 ± 2.1 mm before and 8.1 ± 3.3 mm (P < 0.001) after stent implantation. Six out of seventeen stents (35.2%) had to be redilated after a mean time interval of 19 (5–48) months. Two patients' stents were removed during the next surgical procedure; both needed an early restenting of the affected vessel. There were no procedure-related complications for stent implantation or redilatation. Anatomical risk factors for pulmonary artery stenosis were right aortic arch and hypoplastic pulmonary arteries, whereas dilatation of the ascending aorta for LPA stenosis and Blalock–Taussig shunt for RPA stenosis were surgical risk factors.
Conclusions: Stent implantation to treat pulmonary artery stenosis in pediatric patients with CPC is effective and can be realized safely. Close follow-up is recommended in patients with risk for pulmonary artery stenosis. During total cavopulmonary connection, previously implanted stents at that site should be left in place or be changed in a hybrid procedure to a larger diameter, because the etiology of stenosis may persist after surgery and the surgical removal could result in vessel injury that promotes restenosis.     

A word of caution: Early failure of Magmaris® bioresorbable stent after pulmonary artery stenting

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) have been advocated as the fourth revolution in interventional cardiology medical devices with promising technology to improve the treatment of coronary artery disease with an event-free future. We describe the first reported use and early collapse of the Magmaris® Resorbable Magnesium Scaffold (RMS) stent (BIOTRONIK AG, Switzerland) to relieve left pulmonary artery severe stenosis in a newborn after the Norwood procedure. The stent collapse was detected 2 weeks after implantation and urgently treated with a balloon-expandable stent. This complication raises the alarm about the need to keep implanted RMS under scrutiny. The possibility of faster scaffold resorption in small babies or lack of sufficient radial force of RMS to resist acute vessel recoil has led to ineffective relief of branch pulmonary artery stenosis and failure to enable a safe short-term bridge to Stage II palliation.     

Stenting the patent arterial duct to increase pulmonary blood flow

BACKGROUND: Use of surgically created aoropulmonary shunt is well-established for improving pulmonary blood flow in infants with critical reduction in pulmonary blood flow. Recently, stenting the patent ductus arteriosus has emerged as an alternative in selected infants with congenital heart disease and reduced pulmonary blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed records of consecutive infants undergoing stenting of patent ductus arteriosus between August 2003 and October 2005 at our institution. Two of 12 patients underwent patent ductus arteriosus stenting to facilitate preparation of left ventricle for transposition with intact septum. We report the case selection, technique, immediate and short-term follow-up outcome in the remaining 10 patients [median age: 16 days (range 4-290 days): weight 2.7 kg (range 2-6 kg)] with reduced pulmonary blood flow who underwent stenting of patent ductus arteriosus as an alternative to conventional surgical aortopulmonary shunts. Five of the 6 newborns were prostaglandin-dependent and 4 had previously undergone guidewire perforation of the pulmonary valve (n=2) or balloon dilation (n=2). Successful stent implantation was accomplished in all with no major patient-related complication (median fluoroscopy time: 18.6 min; range: 7.7-72 min). The intensive care unit and hospital stays were prolonged in 3 patients because of sepsis (n=2) and pulmonary over-circulation with sepsis (n=1). On follow-up (median 5.5 months; range 1-19 months) all implanted stents were patent. One patient underwent re-dilation of the implanted stent for declining saturations. CONCLUSIONS: The immediate and short-term follow-up results of stenting of the patent arterial duct, as an alternative to the surgical aortopulmonary shunt in carefully selected newborns and infants is encouraging.     

Large ductus arteriosus and intact ventricular septum associated with congenital absence of the pulmonary valve

Clinical, haemodynamic, angiocardiographic, and necropsy findings are reported in a newborn infant who presented with typical findings of the severe form of the syndrome of absent pulmonary valve. In addition to the usual findings of aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary arteries, pulmonary insufficiency, and stenosis, this patient had an intact ventricular septum and large ductus arteriosus. The former is a rare finding and the latter is not known to have been reported in a patient with the severe form of this syndrome.     

Large ductus arteriosus and intact ventricular septum associated with congenital absence of the pulmonary valve.

Clinical, haemodynamic, angiocardiographic, and necropsy findings are reported in a newborn infant who presented with typical findings of the severe form of the syndrome of absent pulmonary valve. In addition to the usual findings of aneurysmal dilatation of the pulmonary arteries, pulmonary insufficiency, and stenosis, this patient had an intact ventricular septum and large ductus arteriosus. The former is a rare finding and the latter is not known to have been reported in a patient with the severe form of this syndrome.     

Initial results and medium-term follow-up of stent implantation of patent ductus arteriosus in duct-dependent pulmonary circulation

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the safety, efficacy, medium-term outcome, and complications of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting in duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. BACKGROUND: Patent ductus arteriosus stenting has been proposed as an alternative to surgical shunt on account of postoperative morbidity and complications of surgical shunting. METHODS: Between April 2000 and February 2003, 69 patients with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation underwent cardiac catheterization with the intent of PDA stenting as first palliative procedure. Patients with critical pulmonary stenosis and pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum post-radiofrequency valvotomy who had PDA stenting were excluded. Thirteen more patients were excluded because of branch pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis. The follow-up was by clinical examination, echocardiography, and repeat cardiac catheterization at six to nine months following the procedure. RESULTS: Patent ductus arteriosus stenting was successful in 51 patients (91.1%) and failed in 5 patients (8.9%). The mean narrowest PDA diameter was 1.9 +/- 0.6 mm. The mean procedure and fluoroscopy time were 95.7 min and 29.4 min, respectively. In one patient the stent dislodged and migrated to the left femoral artery and another patient developed transient intravascular hemolysis. There was no procedure-related mortality. Three patients (5.9%) died one day to two months after the procedure. At follow-up (3.2 months to 2.4 years), 8 patients developed significant stent stenosis requiring reintervention. Seven patients developed worsening of preexisting branch PA stenosis. The freedom from reintervention was 89% and 55% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patent ductus arteriosus stenting is an attractive alternative to surgical shunt in a majority of patients with duct-dependent circulation. An absolute contraindication to this technique is the presence of branch pulmonary stenosis.