In this multicenter comparison of palliative PDA stent and BT shunt for infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow adjusted for differences in patient factors, there was no difference in the primary end point, death or unplanned reintervention to treat cyanosis. However, other markers of morbidity and pulmonary artery size favored the PDA stent group, supporting PDA stent as a reasonable alternative to BT shunt in select patients.

Objectives To devise a classification scheme for ductal morphology in patients with ductal dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF) that can be used to assess outcomes. Background The impact of ductal morphology on outcomes following patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting is not well defined. Methods Patients <1 year of age who underwent PDA stenting for ductal dependent PBF at the four centers comprising the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative (CCRC) were included. A classification scheme for PDA morphology was devised based on a tortuosity index (TI)—Type I (straight), Type II (one turn), and Type III (multiple turns). A subtype classification was used based upon the ductal origin. Results One hundred and five patients underwent PDA stenting. TI was Type I in 58, Type II in 24, and Type III in 23 PDAs, respectively. There was a significant association between ductal origin and vascular access site (p < 0.001). Procedure times and need for >1 stent did not differ based on TI. Greater TI was associated with pulmonary artery (PA) jailing (p = 0.003). Twelve (11.4%) patients underwent unplanned reintervention, more commonly with greater TI (p = 0.022) and PA jailing (p < 0.001). At the time of subsequent surgical repair/palliative staging, PA arterioplasty was performed in 32 patients, more commonly when a PA was jailed (p = 0.048). PA jailing did not affect PA size at follow up. Conclusions The proposed qualitative and quantitative PDA morphology classification scheme may be helpful in anticipating outcomes in patients with ductal dependent PBF undergoing PDA stenting.