Therapeutics catheterization in pediatric cardiology.

86 Vol 45 (Supplement 1) 2014 Therapeutic catheterization increases the role in pediatric cardiology practice, especially in congenital heart diseases. It may be classified into two groups: 1) Dilatation (open up) that use balloon catheters and endovascular stents; 2) Closure (close down) that use occluding devices eg, occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (Lertsapcharoen et al, 1999, 2009). In 1966, Dr William Rashkind reported the work on “Creation of an Atrial Septal Defect Without Thoracotomy,” and one year later, a sponge plug for Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) closure by Dr Charles Dotter was introduced (Fig 1). With advances in plastic and alloy engineering, various transcatheter occluding devices to close heart defects and balloon catheter-based techniques to dilate stenotic lesions have been developed. Improved catheter and stent systems led to a wide range of feasibility with better outcome in neonates THERAPEUTICS CATHETERIZATION IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY