Background: New materials and devices have been used in the management of cardiac malformations. In this paper, we present our experience with interventional occlusion of congenital vascular malformations.

Methods: Between January 1997 and December 2005, 139 patients with congenital vascular malformations who had undergone interventional occlusion in the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were studied. The clinical data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed including pre-operative evaluation, surgical procedures, immediate complete closure rate, short-term complications, and short-term outcome.

Results: Of the 139 patients, 126 had patent ductus arteriosus, and successful deployment was achieved in 121 of the 126 patients (96%, 121/126). Six patients had coronary artery fistula and 14 different coils were used for embolization; the immediate complete closure rate was 83.3%, and the complete closure rate after one month was 100%. The abnormal vessels of 3 patients with pulmonary sequestration were completely occluded using four 0.038-inch Gianturco coils. In 3 patients with aortopulmonary collaterals, 14 abnormal vessel branches were occluded with sixteen 0.038-inch Gianturco coils, reaching a closure rate of 100%. One patient with pulmonary arteriovenous fistula was occluded successfully with two 0.038-inch Gianturco coils.

Conclusions: Transcatheter closure using coils is a safe and effective alternative to surgical ligation in the management of congenital vascular malformations in children. Selection of appropriate coils is important to achieve a better outcome.

Key words: embolization; patent ductus arteriosus; transcatheter; vascular malformations

World J Pediatr 2009;5(4):296-299