Inadvertent stenting of patent ductus arteriosus with Amplatzer Vascular Plug.

We report a 12-month old patient who presented for murmur evaluation after percutaneous closure of type C patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using a 10 mm Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AGA Medical Corporation, Golden Valley, MN) at an outside institution. Echocardiography revealed a large left-to-right shunt through the implanted device, inadvertently stenting the PDA instead of closing it. The patient underwent repeat catheterization with successful coil implantation within the Amplatzer Vascular Plug, completely eliminating the large residual ductal shunt. Although challenging, this case illustrates the technique of implanting coils within this occlusion device. This case also illustrates that occlusion of type C PDA utilizing the Amplatzer Vascular Plug may not only result in incomplete occlusion but also create a potentially worse clinical situation in which the PDA is stretched larger and stented open. Without consideration of simultaneous coil implantation within this device, use of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug might be contraindicated in type C PDA, because there may be no way to ensure successful closure by the Vascular Plug alone. Copyright (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.