Clinical study of stand-alone transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of stand-alone transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) without the use of X-ray equipment. METHODS: From January to December 2015, we performed stand-alone transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous PDA occlusion using an occluder delivered via a delivery sheath introduced via femoral vein access without the use of X-ray equipment in 12 PDA patients. RESULTS: PDA occlusion was successfully performed in all 12 patients. The procedure duration ranged from 30 to 110 min (50.4±22.8 min), and the size of the implanted occluder ranged from 12 to 20 mm (15.2±2.8 mm). No occluder migration, residual shunt, or thrombotic complications were observed in the perioperative period. There was no clinical death, hemolysis, infection, or embolism during patients’ hospitalization and the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: Stand-alone transthoracic echocardiography-guided percutaneous PDA occlusion without the use of X-ray equipment is a safe and effective procedure.