The changing face of percutaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus: advances over the last few years

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure is recommended for patients with moderate-to-large PDAs with significant left-to-right shunting, left-sided volume overload, reversible pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) or a previous episode of endocarditis.1 In patients with either a small or silent PDA, the decision to close may be less clear. However, closure is still recommended in small, audible PDAs and in selected small, silent PDAs, if so preferred by the clinician and the family, due to the theoretically increased risk for the development of endocarditis.