Stent implantation of the arterial duct in newborns with duct-dependent circulation

AIMS: Little is known about the medium term results after stenting of the arterial duct in neonates and infants with duct-dependent cyanotic congenital heart disease. We report the results of stent implantation of the arterial duct in 21 neonates and infants. The defects for which the arterial duct was stented included pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum, critical pulmonary stenosis, and more complex defects with associated reduced pulmonary blood flow. METHODS AND RESULTS: Palmaz stents were used and successfully implanted in all the 21 patients. There were no major complications during the stent implantation procedure although two hospital deaths occurred 2 and 14 days after stent implantation. Cardiac catheterization was repeated electively 3 to 6 months after stent implantation. Stent stenosis due to intimal proliferation was noted in 11/13 patients who underwent recatheterization. Stenosis of the inner stent lumen ranged from 25% to 100%, mean 74%. Re-dilatation of the stent was required in five patients who were awaiting corrective surgery. In babies with pulmonary atresia or critical pulmonary stenosis, who also underwent additional balloon dilatation of the pulmonary valve, spontaneous closure of the stented arterial duct was well tolerated and when it occurred, the right ventricular size had increased and the circulation was no longer duct-dependent. In patients who required subsequent surgical corrective treatment, stenting of the duct allowed the definite corrective operation to be performed as the first surgical procedure. During the follow-up period, ranging between 2 months and 2 years, mean 8.7 months increased growth of the pulmonary arteries was seen in all the patients. No distortion of the branch pulmonary arteries was seen. CONCLUSION: In patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease stenting of the arterial duct is an effective alternative to surgical aorto-pulmonary shunts.