Off-label uses of the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in children with congenital and acquired heart diseases.

The Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder (APO) is approved for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion in infants weighing >700 g but could offer versatility to treat other lesions. Retrospective review of children in whom APO was utilized for defects other than PDA between January 2022 and June 2023. The APO was used in nine patients; three for ventricular septal defects, four with coronary fistulas, one for a ventricular pseudoaneurysm and one where APO deployed within a fenestration of a previously placed Amplatzer Septal Occluder.

Feasibility and Safety of Percutaneous Cardiac Interventions for Congenital and Acquired Heart Defects in Infants ≤1000 g.

The transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (TCPC) has been demonstrated to be feasible even in infants weighing ≤1000 g. However, other percutaneous cardiac interventions (PCI) for such small infants born with congenital heart defects (CHD) or acquired heart defects (AHD) have not been well described. The purpose of this study was to describe the feasibility and safety of PCI in infants ≤1000 g.

Echocardiographic versus Angiographic Measurement of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants and the Utility of Echo Guidance for Transcatheter Closure.

Background: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is increasingly utilized for guiding transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants. The objectives of this study were to compare PDA size measurements by TTE with angiographic measurements and to describe TTE techniques used in guiding transcatheter PDA closure (TCPC) in ELBW infants.

Methods: One hundred twenty-five consecutive ELBW infants (gestational age < 27 weeks, birth weight < 1 kg) who underwent TCPC before 8 weeks of age under TTE guidance were included.

Preliminary testing and evaluation of the renata minima stent, an infant stent capable of achieving adult dimensions.

Objectives: This study sought to obtain in vivo data on a new stent and delivery system specifically designed for implantation in infants with the ability to be enlarged to adult dimensions.

Background: There are no endovascular stents designed for or approved for use in infants, nor is there a stent capable of being implanted at infant vessel diameters and achieving adult size while maintaining structural integrity. The Minima stent was designed to address these needs.