Novel Uses of the Rashkind Ductal Umbrella in Adults and Children with Congenital Heart Disease

Objective: To show possible alternative uses of the Rashkind ductal umbrella.

Design: Descriptive study of selected, non-randomised patients; with specific congenital heart lesions other than an arterial duct.

Setting: A tertiary referral centre.

Patients: Nine patients with congenital heart lesions; four with interatrial communications after a fenestrated Fontan procedure two with large aortopulmonary collaterals, three with an unoperated ventricular septal defect.

Interventions: Placement of a Rashkind umbrella occluder as treatment for a haemodynamically important lesion.

Results: Successful placement with symptomatic and haemodynamic improvement in all.

Conclusions: The Rashkind ductal umbrella may be used successfully to treat some patients with aortopulmonary collateral vessels, ventricular septal defects, and interatrial communications after the fenestrated Fontan procedure.