Text Box: TRANSCATHETER COIL CLOSURE OF THE SMALL PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS Gao W, Zhou A-Q,Yu Z-Q, Li F, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center，Shanghai, China Objective: Coil closure of patent ductus arteriosus（PDA）has become an accepted alternative to surgical closure in most pediatric centers. However, little is known about the methodology of Coil closing the small PDA and the immediate to inter-mediate results. Methods: Between August 1998 and March 2001, 51 cases of small PDA underwent percutaneous DUCT-OCCLUD coil occlusion at the Department of cardiology, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. The mean age was 6.0±3.1years (range, 1.5 years to 12 years); mean weight was 15.9±10.7kg (range,11.0 to 51kg). The mean minimum diameter of the PDA was 1.1±0.2mm (range,0.5-1.5mm). Standard right and retrograde left heart catheterization was performed, followed by coil occlusion. A 4Fr or 5Fr catheter was used for coil deployment. Results: All patients had immediate complete closure, conformed by aortography or by color flow echo imaging or both. The median fluoroscopy time was 22 min (7-32min). The hospitalization was only 5 days. At a median follow-up interval of 1.5 years (1month to 2 years), there were no hemolysis, coil migration, delayed recanalization, thromboembolic episodes, or bacterial endocarditis. Conclusion: Transcatheter closure of PDA with the DUCT-OCCLUD coil is a safe and effective method especially for small ducts. 1880