Historical Aspects of Transcatheter Closure of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus.

The patent ductus arteriosus was the first congenital cardiac lesion to undergo successful closure in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Porstmann in 1966 reported the successful closure of the ductus with an Ivalon foam plug. Since then numerous devices have been used to close the ductus. For the smaller ductus (< 4 mm in diameter), the Gianturco coil is now routinely used. For a ductus more than 4 mm in diameter, the devices used are currently undergoing clinical trials.