Use of an intravascular endoprosthesis (stent) to establish and maintain short-term patency of the ductus arteriosus in newborn lambs

The feasibility of stenting the ductus arteriosus with a balloon-expandable vascular endoprosthesis was tested in 8 newborn lambs. Tantalum wire and stainless steel mesh coronary stents were implanted antegrade or retrograde by percutaneous transfemoral catheterization. One lamb died during the procedure from perforation of the aorta. In 7 lambs, the ductus arteriosus was crossed using endhole catheters and wires, and stents mounted on angioplasty catheters were expanded in the ductus arteriosus. Six lambs had successful implantation and had maintained a sizeable patent ductus arteriosus at 2 h. We conclude that the feasibility of percutaneous stenting of the newborn ductus was demonstrated. By providing patency of the ductus arteriosus, stents may offer nonsurgical alternatives for palliation of cyanotic congenital heart disease and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.