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Objective: The incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is greater among patients living at high altitude. In this po-pulation, the ductal diameter is often larger and pulmonary hypertension is more frequent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemodynamic and morphological features of PDA and transcatheter closure procedures performed with various devices in a group of patients living at high altitude in Turkey., Methods: The data of 327 patients who lived at an altitude of at least 1600 m above sea level and who had undergone cardiac catheterization for isolated PDA between May 2010 and July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed., Results: The mean age was 7.33±7.67 years, and 62.4% of the patients were female. The mean ductal diameter was 3.74±2.14 mm. Pulmonary hypertension was present in 57.8%. Transcatheter closure was performed in 322 patients, with a 97.3% success rate. The Amplatzer duct occluder I (ADO I) was used most often, as well as off-label use of the Amplatzer vascular plug II (AVP) and the Amplatzer muscular ventricular septal defect occluder (AMVSDO). Pulmonary artery pressure decreased immediately in the vast majority after percutaneous closure. Transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction after ductal closure was seen only rarely. Follow-up was uneventful., Conclusion: Transcatheter PDA closure can be performed with high success rate in highlanders. Off-label devices may be required for these procedures. Pulmonary hypertension is frequent but regresses after ductal closure. Transient left ventricular dysfunction after transcatheter closure is rarely seen in these patients and resolves without any medication.

A 5-year-old male with a double outlet right ventricle with noncommitted ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis underwent a bidirectional Glenn operation at 2 years and a Fontan operation with ligation of the pulmonary trunk at 5 years. He presented with pleural effusion 3 months after the Fontan operation. Physical examination revealed a grade 3/6 systolic murmur in the pulmonary area. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed an antegrade pulmonary flow (APF) of gradient 80 mmHg across the ventriculopulmonary communication. Cardiac catheterization and angiography demonstrated the presence of residual antegrade pulmonary flow and stenosis at the pulmonary artery bifurcation. Both pathologies were treated using a single covered stent. Relief of the pulmonary artery stenosis and total occlusion of the residual APF was demonstrated on a control angiogram.

A descending aorta to vertebral venous plexus fistula is an extremely rare form of arteriovenous fistula. A 10-month-old infant was referred to the hospital for evaluation of a murmur. On examination, a continuous murmur was heard in the entire back. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed left heart chamber dilatation in the presence of preserved left ventricle systolic function. Computerized tomography angiography with 3-dimensional reconstruction, and lateral projection aortography revealed a descending aorta-vertebral venous plexus fistula measuring 4.8 mm in the aortic orifice. The fistula was embolized using an Amplatzer Vascular Plug 2.