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Objectives: To analyse safety, efficacy, and follow up results of percutaneous closure of persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in very young symptomatic children.

Patients and design: Between March 2000 and March 2003, of 197 patients treated at the authors’ institution 18 were symptomatic children aged ⩽ 3 years old. Seven of these children were ⩽ 1 year old. Indications for closure were failure to thrive (12 patients) and frequent respiratory infections (six patients). The procedure was carried out under heavy sedation with fluoroscopic control. The Amplatzer duct occluder device was used. Basal physical examinations and echocardiograms were performed before the procedure and at follow up (three, six, and 12 months and yearly thereafter).

Results: Mean (SD) age was 18.3 (10) months and mean (SD) weight at closure was 9.1 (2.2) kg. Neither death nor any major complications occurred. Complications …