Color Flow Doppler Follow-up After Transcatheter Occlusion of Ductus Arteriosus

To evaluate the prevalence and natural history of residual shunting after ductal occlusion with Rashkind double disc umbrella, 18 patients were evaluated by color flow Doppler echoardiography between May 1992-July 1994. The patients age ranged from 2 to 10 years (average 5.14±2.31). 8 were male and 10 were female. Successful occluder device implantation was achieved (12 mm device was used in 10, 17 mm device was used in 8) in all patients without embolisation. Continuous murmur disappeared in 16 patients and continued in two patients with significant residual shunting on postocclusion aortography. All patients had serial color flow echocardiographic follow-up 1 day, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months following the procedure and with 6 month-intervals afterwards. Follow-up period ranged from 1 to 24 months (average 9.9±7.9 months). Residual ductal shunting was 83.3» on first day after occlusion and decreasing to 55% at 3 months, 42.8% at 6 months and 36.6% at the end of 2 years. Follow-up with color Doppler echocardiography is indicated in patients undergoing transcatheter PDA occlusion, since residual shunting may be detected by color Doppler echocardiography even after successful haemodynamic occlusion.