Transarterial ductal occlusion with the amplatzer vascular plug in 31 dogs

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2008-11, Vol.22 (6), p.1348-1352
• Main Authors: Achen, S.E, Miller, M.W, Gordon, S.G, Saunders, A.B, Roland, R.M, Drourr, L.T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cardiac Catheterization - instrumentation; Cardiac Catheterization - veterinary; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - instrumentation; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - veterinary; Congenital heart disease; Dog Diseases - surgery; Dogs; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - surgery; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent - veterinary; Embolization, Therapeutic - instrumentation; Embolization, Therapeutic - veterinary; Equipment Design; heart diseases; PDA; Prostheses and Implants - veterinary; surgery; surgical equipment
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0185.x

Background: Transarterial ductal occlusion with the Amplatzer vascular plug was first reported in dogs by Hogan et al in 2005. Hypothesis: Use of the Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe, efficacious method of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion. Animals: Thirty‐one client‐owned dogs with PDA. Methods: Records of 31 dogs in which transarterial occlusion of PDA with an Amplatzer vascular plug was attempted were reviewed. Results: All dogs had a type II PDA, with 27 dogs having type IIA morphology and 4 dogs having type IIB morphology. Appropriate device deployment was achieved in 29 of 31 dogs. Postdeployment angiography in 21 dogs documented complete occlusion in 10 dogs, trivial residual flow in 5 dogs, mild residual flow in 2 dogs, moderate residual flow in 3 dogs, and severe residual flow in 1 dog. Transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography documented complete occlusion in 22 dogs, whereas 2 dogs had trivial residual flow, 2 dogs had mild residual flow, 2 dogs had mild to moderate residual flow, and 1 dog had severe residual flow. Of the 7 dogs with residual flow, 2 had complete occlusion 2–4 months postoperatively, 1 had moderate residual flow 1 month postoperatively, and 4 were lost to follow‐up. One dog required a larger device than was able to be deployed through the largest sheath placed in the femoral artery. Pulmonary embolization of the device occurred in 1 dog. Conclusion: We conclude that ductal occlusion with an Amplatzer vascular plug is a safe and efficacious therapy for PDA in dogs.