AIM: The Amplatzer duct occluder(R) is a new system for interventional occlusion of persistently @entity2461 . The purpose of our study was to determine, whether adequate evaluation of this occluder system can be obtained by echocardiography. METHOD: From 11/1999 until 12/2000, 18 @entity1 were included in the study. All underwent interventional occlusion of a @entity2461 with the Amplatzer duct occluder(R). Echocardiography was performed on admission, on day one and three and six months following the intervention. RESULTS: The mean age of our @entity1 was 4.8 years (9 months - 18.7 years, median 3.2 years), the mean weight was 18.4 kg (6.5 - 66 kg, median 14 kg). All echocardiographic findings prior to intervention were confirmed during cardiac catheterization. Following intervention we were able to visualize the occluder system and its relation to surrounding structures in all @entity1 . In none of our @entity1 we found an obstruction of the @entity358 . In 1/18 @entity1 there was a minor protrusion of the distal occluder into the descending aorta. Doppler-sonography however revealed no obstruction. Complete occlusion of the ductus arteriosus was confirmed by color Doppler echocardiography in all @entity1 within 5 days, in 17/18 @entity1 no residual shunt was detectable within 24 hours. CONCLUSION: According to our experience the results of interventional occlusion of @entity2461 in @entity1 and adolescents can be well determined by echocardiography.

[Echocardiographic findings before and after interventional occlusion of persistently XXXX with the amplatzer duct occluder].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'children'] @entity358 :: ('MESH:D008171', 'Disease') :: ['left pulmonary artery'] @entity2461 :: ('MESH:D004374', 'Disease') :: ['patent ductus arteriosus']
@entity2461 :: (MESH:D004374,Disease) :: ['patent ductus arteriosus']
