Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure

Also known as: PDA closure, closure of ductus arteriosus by cardiac catheterization.

What is transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure?

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital heart defect that causes the ductus arteriosus, a blood vessel that connects the aorta with the arteries going to the lungs, to remain open. This vessel should normally close in the first several hours after birth. Transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus closure is a method of correcting this defect without the need for a surgical procedure and avoiding a scar on the chest/back.

What happens during the procedure?

A catheter (a long, thin flexible tube) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin area, and advanced to the PDA.  A device that acts like a plug is inserted into the catheter and placed within the PDA, blocking the abnormal blood flow.

Is any special preparation needed?

You/your child will need to stop taking liquids and food, as well as certain medications, the night before the procedure. If you/your child are taking blood-thinners you may be asked to stop taking them a few days before the procedure.

What are the risks?

Transcatheter PDA closure is a very safe procedure and complications are rare. Potential complications include impingement on surrounding structures, dislodgment of the device, and soreness/bruising at the groin site where the vessels were entered in order to do the procedure.

Transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus device at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital: Transcatheter closure of a patent ductus arteriosus is performed by Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s team of top-notch medical professionals using the most cutting edge techniques.


This page was last updated on: July 30, 2020 02:48 PM

The Heart Institute: Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

The Heart Institute – a world leader in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery and the care of children with congenital heart disorders – serves as a beacon to families confronting the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect.

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The Heart Institute at Nicklaus Children's Acquires FDA-Approved Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder to Perform Non-Surgical Closures of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) in Premature Infants in its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

May 28, 2020 – The Heart Institute now offers the recently FDA-approved Amplatzer Piccolo™ Occluder to close PDAs in very premature babies in the Cath Lab. This self-expanding, wire mesh device is designed specifically to fit within the PDA of very low weight preemies with little risk of interference with adjacent structures.