In this multi-centre study, the mid- to long-term efficacy and safety of the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in patent ductus arteriosus closure in premature and term infants as well as children were discussed. Methods. Between 2016 and 2021, 645 patients, 152 of whom were less than 1 month old, underwent ductus closure with the Piccolo device from five different centres in Turkey. The median age of the patients was 2.2 years, and the mean narrowest point of duct diameter was 1.8 mm. Sixty-two patients weighed ≤ 1.5 kg, 90 patients 1.5–3 kg, and the mean follow-up was 20.4 months. In 396, the duct was closed by the retrograde route. Ductal anatomy was Type A in 285, C in 72, E in 171, and F in 64 patients. Fluoroscopy duration was 6.2 min. The procedure success rate was 99.1%. Device embolisation occurred in 13 patients (2%), and 11 were retrieved with a snare. Cardiac perforation and death developed in one premature baby. The left pulmonary artery and the descending aorta stenosis were observed in 3 (0.4%) and in 5 patients (0.5%). Results. Piccolo device is safe and effective in closing ductus in all age groups. It has low profile for use in premature and newborn babies, a small embolisation risk, and a low residual shunt rate after closure. Conclusion. The Piccolo device can be considered as close an ideal occluder. The lower profile, smaller delivery catheter size, and symmetry of this device allow for a venous or arterial approach.

Objective: We prospectively investigated the neoendothelialization of transcatheter secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) closure in children receiving one of three different occluders. Methods: Transcatheter ASD closure was performed for 44 children. The patients were divided into three groups: group I: Amplatzer, group II: Lifetech CeraFlex, and group III: Occlutech Figulla Flex II septal occluder. The data were prospectively analyzed. Markers of the three phases of wound healing were studied in all patients before and on the 1st and 10th days and 1st month post intervention. Results: The mean age of children was 7.08 +/- 3.51 years, and the mean weight was 26.07 +/- 15.07 kg. The mean ASD diameter was 12.65 +/- 3.50 mm. Groups I, II, and III comprised 34.1%, 31.8%, and 34.1% patients, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the groups regarding patient number, age, defect size, device diameter, or total septum/device ratio (p>0.05). Inflammatory and proliferative phase marker levels increased following the procedure (p0.05). Conclusion: All three devices were composed of nitinol with different surface coating techniques. Although the different manufacturing features were claimed to facilitate of neoendothelialization, no differences were observed among the three devices 1 month following the procedure.

The study aimed to show the chromosomal copy number variations responsible for the aetiology in patients with isolated conotruncal heart anomaly by array comparative genomic hybridisation and identify candidate genes causing conotruncal heart disease. A total of 37 patients, 17 male, and 20 female, with isolated conotruncal heart anomalies, were included in the study. No findings indicated any syndrome in terms of dysmorphology in the patients.Results: Copy number variations were detected in the array comparative genomic hybridisation analysis of five (13.5%) of 37 patients included in the study. Three candidate genes (PRDM16, HIST1H1E, GJA5) found in these deletion and duplication regions may be associated with the conotruncal cardiac anomaly.Conclusion: CHDs can be encountered as the first and sometimes the single finding of many genetic disorders in children. It is thought that genetic tests, especially array comparative genomic hybridisation, may be beneficial for children with CHD since the diagnosis of genetic diseases in these patients as early as possible will help to prevent or reduce complications that may develop in the future. Also, it would be possible to detect candidate genes responsible for conotruncal cardiac anomalies with array comparative genomic hybridisation.