Objectives: To devise a classification scheme for ductal morphology in patients with ductal dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF) that can be used to assess outcomes.
Background: The impact of ductal morphology on outcomes following patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting is not well defined.
Methods: Patients <1 year of age who underwent PDA stenting for ductal dependent PBF at the four centers comprising the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative (CCRC) were included. A classification scheme for PDA morphology was devised based on a tortuosity index (TI)-Type I (straight), Type II (one turn), and Type III (multiple turns). A subtype classification was used based upon the ductal origin.
Results: One hundred and five patients underwent PDA stenting. TI was Type I in 58, Type II in 24, and Type III in 23 PDAs, respectively. There was a significant association between ductal origin and vascular access site (p < 0.001). Procedure times and need for >1 stent did not differ based on TI. Greater TI was associated with pulmonary artery (PA) jailing (p = 0.003). Twelve (11.4%) patients underwent unplanned reintervention, more commonly with greater TI (p = 0.022) and PA jailing (p < 0.001). At the time of subsequent surgical repair/palliative staging, PA arterioplasty was performed in 32 patients, more commonly when a PA was jailed (p = 0.048). PA jailing did not affect PA size at follow up.
Conclusions: The proposed qualitative and quantitative PDA morphology classification scheme may be helpful in anticipating outcomes in patients with ductal dependent PBF undergoing PDA stenting.
Keywords: classification scheme; congenital heart disease; cyanotic; ductal dependent pulmonary blood flow; morphology; patent ductus arteriosus; stent.
© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.