Visualization of the Patent Ductus by Means of a New Low Pressure Balloon Catheter

A new angiographic method of determining the anatomy of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) preparatory to its surgical or nonsurgical closure has been developed and compared to conventional angiographic techniques in 17 patients using a new low pressure balloon catheter (Edwards). The balloon, 5 cm long, is filled with contrast material and expanded to any diameter up to 20 mm. It may be passed into the ductus from either the arterial (14 patients) or venous (3 patients) side. The balloon is expanded by radiopaque material adjacent to the aortic orifice of the PDA and advanced (or pulled) through the ductus. Deformation of the balloon identified the length and caliber of the PDA providing virtually identical estimates thereof in all 17 patients when compared to conventional angiography. On the other hand, visualization of the PDA was good in only 41 (62%) or tolerable in 14 (21%) of 66 conventionally studied patients. (J In-terven Cardiol 1988:1:2)