Coil occlusion of the arterial duct

In 1976 Poretmann introduced a catheter-mediated method of closure closure of the arterial duct. The first device to achieve widespread use was the Rashkind double umbrella. Closure rates were of the order of 80% with one device. The method was expensive and occlusion with Gianturco coils was shown to be as effective in small ducts. More recently, controlled release coils have proved to be as effective and have consider-able popularity because they appear to carry a lower risk of embolization from the duct, and closure rates with one or more coils implanted at one procedure are in excess of 95%. Coil occlusion is safe and effective. However, large ducts still need other types of devices or must be closed surgically.