Transcatheter Occlusion of PDA in Premature Infants Addressed in SCAI Position Statement

August 18, 2025—The Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) announced the publication of its position statement on transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (tcPDA) occlusion in premature infants.

According to SCAI, the position statement addresses patient selection considerations; optimal procedural and technical considerations; operator training and competency; and institutional factors for programmatic success.

The SCAI position statement on tcPDA occlusion in premature infants was published by Sarosh “Shawn” P. Batlivala, MD, et al online in JSCAI.

As explained in the press release, tcPDA has been a mainstay of congenital interventional cardiology practice for decades; however, very low birth-weight infants were historically excluded from consideration because of vascular access limitations and lack of appropriately sized devices.

The society noted that technological advances culminated in FDA approval of the first PDA occlusion device for low birth-weight infants in 2019.

During the subsequent 5 years, there has been a rapid uptake of tcPDA occlusion in this population such that catheter-based procedures have overtaken surgical ligation at an increasing number of centers. Short-term outcomes have been favorable, but long-term success requires knowledge and implementation of procedure-specific best practices, stated SCAI.

Dr. Batlivala, who is Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, served as cochair of the position statement’s writing committee.

“Technological innovation has transformed how we treat premature infants with PDA, but technology alone is not enough,” commented Dr. Batlivala in the SCAI press release. “These procedures require meticulous planning, a deep understanding of neonatal physiology, and seamless coordination between every member of the care team. Our recommendations highlight not just how to perform the intervention, but how to prepare the patient, anticipate challenges, and provide the appropriate follow-up so these early successes translate into healthy long-term outcomes.”

Brent M. Gordon, MD, Chair of the Writing Committee, and Professor of Pediatrics at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California, also commented on the statement in the SCAI press release.

“This position statement represents a collective effort between neonatology, anesthesia, and interventional cardiology to provide comprehensive guidance on tcPDA device occlusion that can be adapted to the unique needs of each center and patient,” stated Dr. Gordon. “While medications can close the PDA in about two-thirds of premature infants, the remaining third, as well as those requiring urgent closure, will still need a procedural intervention.”

Dr. Gordon continued, “Our aim is to help teams perform these interventions as safely and effectively as possible. By creating a team-based approach to these patients, we can standardize care, reduce complications, and give these infants the strongest possible start.”