Coil embolization of patent ductus arteriosus via the carotid artery in seven dogs
Author information
Miller S.J., Thomas W.P. Coil embolization of patent ductus arteriosus via the carotid artery in seven dogs // J Vet Cardiol. 2009 Dec;11(2):129-36.
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and limitations of transcatheter embolization coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs using a carotid artery approach. Seven dogs examined at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in 2002-2003 for evaluation of heart disease had congenital patent ductus arteriosus diagnosed by characteristic physical, electrocardiographic, radiographic, and anatomic and Doppler echocardiographic findings. Dogs were anesthetized for transesophageal echocardiography and transcatheter coil embolization of the ductus via the right external carotid artery. Coil embolization was achieved in all seven cases, using one to four detachable embolization coils. There were no major complications. Minor complications occurred in two dogs (additional coils placed using a femoral arterial approach and coil embolization of a left femoral artery branch). One dog was examined only 24 h post-operatively and had no murmur and trivial residual ductal flow by Doppler echocardiography. The other 6 dogs were clinically healthy when examined up to three years post-intervention. One dog had a very soft continuous murmur and mild residual ductal flow; the other five had no audible continuous murmur, with only one dog having trivial residual ductal flow identified by Doppler echocardiography. Although technically challenging, coil embolization via the carotid artery is a viable alternative approach for transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in some dogs.
Introduction
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is the most commonly diagnosed correctable congenital cardiovascular defect in the dog.1 Since the 1950s, standard treatment for patent ductus arteriosus has been surgical ligation via left thoracotomy.2-4 Over the past 10 years, transcatheter closure of PDA, using Gian- turco-type flexible coils or other devices, has become increasingly common in both human and veterinary patients.5-23,25-29,31 Coil embolization is less invasive than surgical ligation, resulting in less post-operative discomfort.
The most common approach to transcatheter coil PDA embolization is via a femoral artery. This approach provides an optimum angle for catheter passage from the descending aorta into the patent ductus arteriosus, requiring minimal catheter maneuvering to deliver the coil(s) (Fig. 1A). One limitation of the femoral artery approach is the small size of many affected dogs at the time of diagnosis and the resulting small caliber of the femoral artery compared to available catheter systems for delivery of 'detachable’ coils (4-5 French).c This problem is further compounded when a small dog has a large left-to-right shunt and a ductal size that requires a wider and/or stiffer coil than can be delivered through the small artery.
We hypothesized that an approach through a larger access artery might allow insertion of a larger caliber catheter and coil system and facilitate ductal embolization in some dogs. The most readily accessible peripheral artery with a caliber wider than the femoral artery in dogs is the external carotid artery. We therefore studied the feasibility and limitations of using a carotid artery approach for transcatheter coil embolization of patent ductus arteriosus in a group of 7 dogs.
Animals, materials and methods
Seven young dogs were referred to the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital for evaluation of a heart murmur. The average weight and age of the dogs at the time of coil embolization were 5.6 kg (range 2.2-11.0 kg) and 3.8 months (range 2-5 months). Four dogs were standard dachshunds from the same litter, one was an unrelated standard dachshund, one was a Coton deTulear, and one was a Newfoundland retriever. Patent ductus arteriosus was diagnosed by characteristic physical, electrocardiographic, radiographic, and anatomic and Doppler echocardiographic findings. All dogs had grades 4-5/6 continuous murmurs heard best in the left axillary region and bounding femoral artery pulses.
Electrocardiograms on the related dachshunds and the Coton de Tulear showed increased R wave voltages (3.0-4.5 mV) in leads II and V4, consistent with left ventricular enlargement. An electrocardiogram was not performed on the other dachshund and Newfoundland retriever. Thoracic radiographs showed varying degrees of car- diomegaly with left atrial enlargement, pulmonary hypervascularity, and ductal aortic bulge on the dorsoventral projection. Two-dimensional (2D) and color-flow Doppler echocardiography in left cranial parasternal views identified a conical PDA in all dogs, with a continuous turbulent retrograde jet in the main pulmonary artery originating from the ductus. The average peak instantaneous velocity of the PDA jet by continuous wave spectral Doppler was 4.6 m/sec (range 4.1-5.1 m/sec). The Newfoundland retriever also had severe subaortic stenosis. No other abnormalities were identified in the other 6 dogs.
Figure 1 Sagittal section of the great vessels from a dog with congenital PDA showing caudal and cranial catheter approaches to the ductus
(A) From a femoral artery approach the gently curved catheter is easily passed from the descending aorta into the ductus. (B) From a carotid artery approach the catheter must be tightly curved to overcome the acute angle between the ductus and aorta. This results in limited maneuverability of the catheter tip from this approach. LSA = left subclavian artery, BCT = brachiocephalic trunk, AA = ascending aorta, DA = descending aorta, PA = pulmonary artery, D = ductus arteriosus.
Anesthesia
Dogs were anesthetized using one of two main protocols, chosen at the discretion of the anesthesiologist. Dogs were premedicated with one of the following combinations; glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg SQ) and morphine (1 mg/kg IM), atropine (0.03 mg/kg SQ) and morphine (1 mg/kg SQ), or atropine (0.02—0.05 mg/kg SQ) and oxy- morphone (0.05—0.1 mg/kg SQ). Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl (8—17 mg/kg IV) and midazolam (0.3—0.4 mg/kg IV) or etomidate (0.4— 0.9 mg/kg IV) and midazolam (0.05—0.25 mg/kg IV). Most dogs that received fentanyl and midazolam for induction were maintained with a continuous fentanyl infusion (0.25—0.7 mg/kg/ min). Those induced with etomidate and midazolam also received a continuous dopamine infusion (2.5—7 mg/kg/min). Maintenance anesthesia was achieved using isoflurane in 6 dogs and sevoflurane in 1 dog. Six of 7 dogs were mechanically ventilated. All dogs received intravenous fluids at 5 mL/kg/hr during the procedure and perioperative antibiotics. Arterial pressure, end tidal CO2 and oxygen saturation were monitored throughout the procedure. A post-operative opioid injection was administered to 4 dogs.
Coil embolization technique
Prior to coil embolization, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed on 6 dogs (Dog 6 was too small for the adult TEE transducer) to evaluate the morphology of the ductus and to attempt to measure the diameter of the ampulla and the minimum diameter of the ductal opening.30 The ampulla was defined as the widest part of the body of the ductus. Average ampulla diameter was 7.8 mm (range 5.5—10.2 mm, n = 6). Average minimum diameter of the ductal opening was 2.6 mm (range 1.7—3.6 mm, n = 6). Following TEE, dogs were placed in left lateral recumbency, and an area from just below the mandible to the thoracic inlet was clipped and aseptically prepared. The right external carotid artery was isolated and ligated distally. An end-hole catheterd between 4.1 and 6.0 French (Fr), and recommended by the manufacturer for use with the embolization coils, was inserted into the carotid artery and fluoroscopically guided into the descending aorta at or just cranial to the aortic opening of the ductus (Figs. 1B and 2A) An angiogram was performed using 0.5—1 mL/kg of iodinated contraste (Fig. 2B) and the junction of the ductus and pulmonary artery was identified and marked on the screen as a reference point. The catheter tip was then positioned at or just caudal to the aortic end of the ductus. In the first dog, an unmodified catheter with minimal curvature (similar to the catheterin Fig. 1A)wasinitially used. Subsequently, catheters were manually modified to create a sharper curve at the tip to reduce the acute angle between the catheter tip and the ductus (Figs. 1B and 2A). The first coil had 2—3 loops and its width was chosen by multiplying the minimal ductal diameter by 1.5—2. Selection of additional coils was based on the authors’ experience; most had £2.5 loops and were of the same or thinner wire gauge and narrower loop width than the initial coil. Each detachable coil was deployed into the PDA using the appropriate coil positioning catheter (0.035" or 0.038" x 120 cm)f (Fig. 2C, Table 1). The 0.052" non-detachable coilg in Dog 2 was delivered using a 3 Fr 120 cm myocardial biopsy forcepsh to grasp the end of the coil and control its delivery through a 6 Fr, 48 cm long intravascular sheath.i All coils were positioned entirely within the ductus, with no coil loops in the pulmonary artery. After each coil was deployed, echocardiography and/or angiography were repeated to assess residual ductal flow (Fig. 2D). If residual flow was significant and an additional coil could not be deployed from the carotid approach, a femoral artery approach was used to place the required additional coils. The procedure was terminated when residual ductal flow ranged from none to very mild (small amount of flow that did not extend to the pulmonic valve).
Post-operative evaluations
All dogs were evaluated by auscultation, thoracic radiography and echocardiography on the morning following the catheterization procedure. Attention was given to the presence or absence of a murmur, coil position on thoracic radiographs, and residual ductal flow estimated subjectively using color-flow Doppler echocardiography. Residual flow was classified using a previously described grading scheme: grade 0 = no residual PDA flow in the main pulmonary artery, grade 1 = trivial flow adjacent to the entrance of the PDA to the main pulmonary artery, grade 2 = mild flow seen as a narrow jet in the main pulmonary artery that did not reach the pulmonic valve, and grade 3 = moderate flow seen as a jet in the main pulmonary artery that reached the pulmonic valve.25 Subsequent post-operative examinations were limited to auscultation and echo-Doppler examination.
Figure 2 Fluoroscopic images from a dog with patent ductus arteriosus during coil embolization via the carotid artery
(A) Position of the modified Cook MPA catheterd with the tip at the opening of the ductus (compare to Fig. 1B). (B) Angiogram prior to coiling. (C) Position of the catheter during coil deployment, demonstrating an acute angle between catheter and coil. (D) Angiogram following coil placement, showing complete ductal occlusion. AA = ascending aorta, DA = descending aorta, PA = pulmonary artery, D = ductus arteriosus.
Results
Technique
One to four coils were successfully deployed into the patent ductus arteriosus of each dog from the carotid artery approach (Table 1). In Dog 1, an unmodified, minimally curved end-hole catheter recommended by the coil manufacturer (similar to the catheter in Fig. 1A) was used to deliver a 4-loop coil from the carotid approach. In this dog, most of the coil was successfully positioned in the ductus but a portion of the last loop remained curled around the crista reuniens in the ventral aorta and could not be maneuvered into the ductus. An attempt to deliver a second smaller coil from the carotid approach was unsuccessful. Consequently, a traditional right femoral artery approach was used to deliver 2 additional coils to complete the occlusion (Table 1). Beginning with Dog 2, catheters were heated and molded to create a sharper curve at the tip to reduce the acute angle between the catheter tip and the ductus and to facilitate directing the coils into the ductus (Figs. 1 Band 2A). All coils in Dogs 2—7 were delivered through the modified catheters, which made it easier to direct the coil ventrally from the aorta into the ductus. In Dog 2, a 0.038" coil delivered through a 5 Fr catheter would not stabilize in the ductus, but a 0.052" coil was successfully deployed using a 6 Fr catheter. Using the modified catheters, deployment of the first coil was accomplished relatively easily in each dog, although the ability to adjust the position of the catheter tip and coil orientation relative to the ductus anatomy was more limited than from a femoral artery approach. A singlecoilwas successfully deployed and occluded the PDA in Dogs 2, 3, 5, and 6. Positioning and deploying additional coils were more difficult than from a femoral approach. However, a second coil was deployed in Dog 4 and 3 additional coils were deployed in Dog 7.
Table 1 Catheter type and coil size(s) used in each dog
Complications
There were no major complications (arterial perforation, hemorrhage, or death) in this series of dogs. Minor complications occurred in 2 dogs. In Dog 1, one coil was delivered via the carotid artery, but attempts to deliver additional coils from this approach were unsuccessful. Subsequently, two additional coils were delivered via a femoral artery approach. Following successful deployment of 1 coil in Dog 4, an additional small coil embolized to a left femoral artery branch. This occurred when there was difficulty positioning the coil and it released prematurely from the positioning catheter in the middle of the ductus without being secured next to the first coil. A second attempt to deliver another small coil was successful. The embolized artery was examined by 2D and color Doppler ultrasound and found to have persistent flow through the site, so no attempt was made to retrieve the aberrant coil.
Post-operative evaluations
The results of post-operative auscultation and color Doppler echocardiographic examinations are shown in Table 2. At 24 h post-intervention, two dogs had no murmur and no residual ductal flow, two dogs had no audible continuous murmur and grade 1 residual ductal flow, and three dogs had a grade 2/6 continuous murmur and grade 2—3 residual ductal flow. At 2 months post-intervention the examinations were unchanged in two dogs. At 11 months post-intervention, 2 dogs had diminished murmurs and residual ductal flow. At 3 years post-intervention, dog 4 had no audible continuous murmur and no residual ductal flow, but continued to have a grade 5/6 left basilar systolic murmur from severe subaortic stenosis. Color Doppler imaging showed persistent flow through the embolized femoral coil. Dog 6 was lost to further follow up.
Discussion
Patent ductus arteriosus continues to be one of the most common congenital heart defects diagnosed in dogs.1 For several decades the standard method for correction of this defect has been surgical ligation or transection via left lateral thoracotomy, with a high success rate.2—4 Over the past decade, catheter closure techniques have become accepted alternative methods for occluding PDAs in dogs.5—23,25—29,31 The simplest and most commonly reported technique has been catheter delivery of flexible embolization coils, which have been delivered antegrade via the femoral artery8—11,14,16 or brachial artery,12 or retrograde by femoral venotomy.7,12 Other devices have been used to occlude larger PDAs in dogs, including the Gianturco—Grifka Vascular Occlusion Device18 and the human Amplatzer® Duct Occlu- der19—21 and, more recently, the Amplatzer® Vascular Plug22,28,31 and the Amplatz® Canine Duct Occluder.23,29 All of the non-coil devices have achieved very good results but may be difficult to deliver via the required catheters in very small dogs. Both surgical correction and coil occlusion have high success rates,2-4,25-27 but the major complication rate is lower for coil occlusion.27
Table 2 Results of post-operative examinations
Currently available embolization coil systems come in a limited number of wire gauges, coil diameters and lengths, and associated catheter sizes. Successful coil occlusion may be affected by shunt magnitude and vascular access size. Many puppies of the dog breeds predisposed to patent ductus arteriosus are very small (<5 kg) when first diagnosed. As a result, the femoral arteries of these dogs are also small and may only allow insertion of the smaller caliber catheters used for coil delivery (3-4.1 Fr). The smallest available coil system uses 0.025" coils delivered through a 3 Fr catheter, and this system may be used for very small dogs, as reported by Hogan et al.14 In that study, very small dogs were selected with small minimal ductal openings, yet 2 of 10 dogs experienced coil embolization into the lungs and there was one death. If a very small dog has a comparatively large patent ductus arteriosus, available 0.025" or 0.035" coils may not be wide enough or stiff enough to lodge securely in the ductus, increasing the risk of pulmonary embolization of the coil. Access to a larger caliber artery might facilitate delivery of larger, stiffer coils (0.038" or 0.052") in such patients, reducing the chances for pulmonary coil embolism. The largest readily accessible peripheral artery in the dog is the external carotid artery, which has been frequently used for other types of left heart catheterization procedures.24 It is consistently wider than the accessible region of the femoral arteries in young dogs, and it is easier to manipulate when isolated.
The first problem with the carotid approach was the acute angle between the pre-ductal aorta and the ductus. We found that it was technically more difficult to direct and deploy coils into the patent ductus arteriosus from this approach compared to the femoral artery approach, especially if the recommended catheter was used without alteration. We found that it was easier to deploy coils using a modified catheter with a sharply curved tip. The second problem with the approach was difficulty delivering additional coils. Because of the open ductus and the volume of flow through it, the first coil was comparatively easy to deploy, as it was naturally pulled by flow toward the ductal opening into the pulmonary artery. Additional coils, however, were more difficult to place, both because of the decreased available space in the ductus and the diminished flow that resulted from the first coil. Dog 1 was treated using the delivery catheter recommended by the manufacturer without modification. Multiple attempts to deliver a second coil from the carotid approach were unsuccessful, so a decision was made to place two additional coils from the traditional femoral artery approach.
The most common complication reported during or after PDA coil placement in dogs has been coil dislodgement and pulmonary or systemic artery embolization.13,15,16,25 We did not experience the more common pulmonary artery embolization of a coil in this study.15,25 In Dog 4 a single small coil embolized to a femoral artery branch, with no observable adverse effects. Difficulty positioning and securing more than one coil from the carotid artery approach may increase the risk of systemic embolization of second or third coils. Although systemic embolization of a coil is an uncommon complication, it has also occurred during coil placement from a femoral artery approach.13,25
The original intent of this study was to determine if coil embolization of PDA might be possible using a carotid artery approach that might be applicable in very small dogs. Although 2 dogs in the study weighed less than 3 kg, none weighed less than 2 kg and most had narrow minimum ductal diameters. Additional experience will be required to determine the applicability of this technique in even smaller dogs. Although technically more demanding than the femoral arterial approach, PDA coil embolization using a carotid approach may be a viable option for some dogs, especially if only one coil is required to close the defect.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Denise Berger, RVT, principal Cardiology Service technician, in performing the clinical examinations and cardiac catheterization studies.
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