Preliminary experience with a new 18 mm Amplatzer PFO occluder for small persistent foramen ovale.

We report our initial experience with a new 18 mm Amplatzer PFO device for the closure of small PFO. Patients were selected by a semiquantitative sizing procedure using the circle of a diagnostic pigtail catheter instead of a sizing balloon. In all eight patients, the device was easy to implant without problems.

First closure of a large patent ductus arteriosus in an infant with an angulated nitinol plug.

We report the first human implantation of an angulated plug in a 5 mm PDA in a child of 11 kg. Implanted through a 5 Fr sheath, the plug showed excellent anatomical alignment. Complete occlusion was documented after 6 hr.