Use of an Amplatzer Vascular Plug to occlude a tubular type of patent ductus arteriosus

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital heart defect. All PDAs, regardless of size or degree of symptoms, require occlusion. Transcatheter PDA occlusion features fewer complications than trans-thoracic closure. It is also more cost-effective and has an excellent occlusion rate. Therefore, transcatheter PDA occlusion is accepted as the standard treatment option for PDA. However, tubular-type PDAs are difficult to close with ordinary detachable coils or the Amplatzer Duct Occluder; thus, these lesions remain a challenge for transcatheter closure. We attempted to occlude a tubular-type PDA by using an oversized Amplatzer Vascular Plug, which allowed intraluminal packing of the ductus. By using this treatment method, PDA occlusion was achieved safely with an excellent final outcome. We suggest that this approach may be a good option for transcatheter closure of a tubular-type PDA. (Korean J Pediatr 2009;52:1035-1037)