Use of the ductal curvature index to assess the risk of ductal stenting in patients with duct-dependent pulmonary circulation

All patients with a duct-dependent pulmonary circulation (DDPC) need an adequate pulmonary perfusion for survival. Although surgical techniques have advanced significantly in recent years (1), some biventricular heart diseases with DDPC remain unamenable to be corrected in the neonatal period due to variable reasons (2-5). Such cardiac defects and all other DDPC with a single ventricle require a palliative procedure to ensure a sufficient pulmonary perfusion until the next planned operation. Either a surgical creation of an aortapulmonary shunt or an interventional PDA stenting will be required for bridging to the next surgery. Multiple studies in the last decades have demonstrated safety and efficacy of duct stenting as an alternative to a surgical creation of modified BlalockTaussig Shunt (mBT Shunt) (6-8). Stenting can spare Original Article