Abstract: Background - The Amplatz Canine Duct Occluder (ACDO) is routinely used for Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) occlusion. Limited data is available on clinical outcomes and success rates with ACDO device placement. Objectives - To report clinical outcomes and complications of standard ACDO procedures in a large cohort of dogs. Animals - Dogs presenting to the University of Minnesota from 2008-2022 that underwent ACDO device placement for PDA occlusion. Methods - Retrospective analysis of outcomes and complications in dogs receiving the ACDO device. Echocardiography was performed prior to occlusion, 24-hours post-occlusion and during follow-up recheck visits. Procedural success was determined by occlusion of flow on angiography, color and spectral Doppler. Results -181 dogs underwent ACDO device placement. Dogs had a median weight of 6.5kg (range 2.55-60.5kg) and required a median device size of 6mm (range 3-14mm). At 24-hours post-occlusion, 4.4% (8/181) had trivial flow through the device. Trivial flow was noted on recheck in 6% (7/116) of patients with a median follow-up time of 116 days (range 24-4595 days). Complications occurred in 6.1% (11/181), with 2% (5/181) considered minor. Major complications occurred in 3.3% (6/181) including device embolization (n=1), hemorrhage from femoral access site requiring transfusion (n=1), cardiac arrest post-operatively (n=1), femoral artery tear (n=1), external iliac artery tear (n=1), and wire perforation of the aorta (n=1). Overall procedural mortality rate was 1.1% (2/181). Conclusions - The high procedural success and low complication rates support use of the ACDO device as a safe and effective treatment for PDA occlusion in dogs.
