PDA Device Closure (Patent Ductus Arteriosus)
🫀 What is PDA?
Patent Ductus Arteriosus is a persistent opening between the aorta and pulmonary artery that should normally close shortly after birth. When it remains open, oxygen-rich blood flows abnormally into the lungs, causing overload.
Types of PDA
Small / Silent PDA
Moderate PDA
Large PDA
Tubular, Elongated PDAs
Krichenko Types A–E (angiographic classification)
Who Needs PDA Closure?
Babies with failure to thrive
Frequent pneumonia or respiratory issues
Continuous murmur on examination
Left heart enlargement on Echo
Large PDA causing increased lung blood flow
Endocarditis prevention in moderate/large PDA
Procedure Overview: Transcatheter PDA Device Closure
Step-by-step:
Local or general anesthesia (depending on age)
A small catheter is inserted through femoral vein/artery
PDA is crossed using a guidewire
A coil or occluder device is deployed
Device seals PDA completely
Catheters removed — no stitches
⏱ Duration: 30–60 minutes
🛏 Hospital Stay: Same day or 1 day
Benefits
No open surgery
Quick recovery
Very high success rate (>99%)
No scar
Normal activity within days
Risks (Very Rare)
Device embolization (<1%)
Mild residual leak (usually closes within weeks)
Vessel injury or bleeding
Allergic reaction to contrast dye
Risks (Very Rare)
Device embolization (<1%)
Mild residual leak (usually closes within weeks)
Vessel injury or bleeding
Allergic reaction to contrast dye
PDA Closure in Infants & Children
Safe even in small infants
Coil devices for tiny PDAs
Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) for large PDAs
Rapid improvement in breathing and weight gain
PDA Closure in Adults
Required when:
Symptom causing PDA
Enlarged left chambers
Risk of endarteritis
VSD Device Closure (Ventricular Septal Defect)
🫀 What is VSD?
A Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a hole in the wall separating the two lower chambers of the heart (ventricles). It causes oxygen-rich blood to mix with oxygen-poor blood.
Types of VSD
Perimembranous VSD (most common)
Muscular VSD (best suited for device closure)
Subpulmonic / Outlet VSD
Inlet VSD
Who Needs VSD Device Closure?
Failure to thrive in infants
Frequent respiratory infections
Large left-to-right shunt
Left heart chamber enlargement
Pulmonary hypertension (early, reversible)
Previous infective endocarditis
Procedure Overview: Transcatheter VSD Device Closure
Step-by-step:
General anesthesia (especially in children)
Catheter inserted through the femoral vein/artery
Crossing the VSD using guidewires
A double-disc nitinol occluder device is deployed
Device seals the VSD completely
No stitches — only a small puncture site
