Patent Ductus Arteriosus Stenting in Infants with Duct-Dependent Pulmonary Circulation: An Indian Experience

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to evaluate outcomes of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting using the latest generation drug-eluting coronary stents in neonates with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation. METHODS: This was a retrospective, observational study which included infants who were diagnosed with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation and underwent PDA stenting at a tertiary care center in India. All pre- and post-procedural details of each patient were retrospectively collected from the medical records of the hospital. All the patients were regularly followed up for up to 12 months in the outpatient clinic until the subsequent surgical procedure following the PDA-stenting. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients who underwent PDA stenting were included in the study. The mean age was 50.22±67.69 days and mean weight was 3.18±1.15 kg. Among all, 24 (41.4%) patients were prematurely born (<37 gestational weeks). A total of 35 (60.3%) patients required prostaglandins before PDA stenting to maintain patency of the duct until the procedure. The mean PDA diameter at pulmonary artery end was 2.75±0.63 mm, and the mean PDA length was 17.19±4.68 mm. A total of 60 drug-eluting coronary stents were implanted across 58 PDAs with Tetrilimus everolimus-eluting stents being the most implanted (35%). The mean implanted stent length and diameter were 19.50±5.61 mm and 4.06±2.39 mm. Successful stent deployment at the intended position across the PDA was achieved in all 58 (100%) patients. During hospital-stay, four (6.9%) cases of in-hospital mortality were reported. Post discharge, three deaths were reported up to 12-month follow-up. During 12-month follow-up, 19 (32.8%) patients underwent univentricular surgical repair, while four (6.9%) underwent biventricular surgical pair. Two (3.4%) patients required stent retrieval and subsequently underwent palliative shunting. CONCLUSION: The PDA stenting with the latest-generation drug-eluting coronary stents is found safe and clinically better palliative care strategy for patients with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation, resulting in improved procedural and follow-up outcomes.