Ductal stenting (DS) procedure has been proposed as an alternative to aortopulmonary shunts in congenital heart disease with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow. Most reports comparing both techniques have limited numbers of patients and describe single-centre experience.

The primary aim was to compare procedural overall survival to next-stage palliative or surgical repair.

The secondary objectives were:

– survival to 30days, discharge, 1-year survival and up to the present;

– early hospital morbidity;

– incidence of re-interventions;

– risk factors for morbidity and mortality;

– predictive factors of success;

– pulmonary artery growth.

Infants<1year of age with duct- dependent pulmonary blood flow palliated, either mBTS or DS, as their first procedure were included.

This is a retrospective, international multicenter study conducted in tertiary European centers with paediatric and congenital cardiology activity.

A total of 644 patients were included. In total, 178 patients underwent DS procedure, and in 466 patients a mBTS was attempted. All baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. DS procedure was elective in 78%. DS was approached predominantly from a femoral approach (65%). Most stents placed were mounted on 3.5- to 4-mm balloon and most cases required 1 or 2 stents (45%). DS was successful in 81%. DS failed was often related to univentricular physiology and duct morphology. A slightly increased risk of reintervention DS group was observed. Subsequent analysis (including the propensity score adjustment) is currently undertaken and would be available within the next months, to be described during the congress.

There is a lack of data on large paediatric cohort comparing these techniques. Experienced shared from high-volume institutions would be a major interest to better define issues and may help to better establish the risk–benefit balance of the two therapeutic options.