Percutaneous closure of small patent arterial ducts using occluding spring coils and a snare

In recent years, the percutaneous closure of small and medium-sized patent arterial ducts has been achieved using occluding spring coils. We describe our experience in 33 patients with this technique using a snare to facilitate the procedure. All patients had a clinically apparent patent arterial duct and underwent an attempt at transcatheter closure at a mean age of 5.6 years. In one patient, the duct was a residual lesion following surgical ligation, and in three was residual following attempted closure with a Rashkind double-umbrella. The mean narrowest diameter of the ducts was 1.9 mm. The coil embolized in two of the first four patients, and subsequent to that experience we used a snare to improve delivery. Of the 33 patients, implantation was successful in 32 (97%) using one [29 patients] or two [two patients] coils and in one by a combination of a double-umbrella device and an occluding spring coil. The mean fluoroscopic screening time for the whole group was 26.5 minutes, this time decreasing to 18.5 minutes in the last 26 patients [p