Transcatheter Occlusion of Left-To-Right Shunts in Premature Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and atrial septal defects (ASDs) cause pulmonary overcirculation, potentially worsening bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. Transcatheter device occlusion of these defects is feasible and safe, though no case-controlled studies have assessed respiratory outcomes in infants with BPD. We hypothesized infants with BPD and ASDs or PDAs would experience improved respiratory outcomes following device occlusion of these lesions as compared to those who did not.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, retrospective case-control study of premature infants diagnosed with BPD and either a small to large ASD or a small to moderate PDA from 2015 to 2021. The intervention group underwent transcatheter device occlusion of their defects and the control group did not. We compared changes in BPD severity over time between these two groups.

Results: The control and intervention groups demonstrated comparable baseline demographics. Of the 15 patients in the intervention group, 9 underwent PDA device occlusion and 6 underwent ASD device occlusion at median postmenstrual age of 42 weeks (IQR 41-45 weeks). Despite having higher severity BPD at baseline, there was a more pronounced improvement in BPD severity in the intervention group as compared to the control group.

Discussion: Premature infants with BPD and an ASD or PDA who underwent transcatheter occlusion of their lesion demonstrated a faster rate of improvement of their BPD severity as compared to a control cohort with similar lesions who did not undergo device occlusion of their lesion.