Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the immediate and intermediate outcomes of stent therapy for coarctation or recoarctation of the aorta.
Setting: Tertiary referral centres.
Methods: A case review of all patients who have undergone stent implantation for coarctation of aorta in the Netherlands and Belgium.
Results: Stents were implanted in 33 patients (mean age 21±16 years) and successful outcome occurred acutely in 32 of these 33 patients. Peak systolic blood pressure decreased from 149±37 to 124±24 mmHg. The pressure gradient decreased from 37±16 to 7±7 mmHg. The diameter of the coarctation segment increased from 7.3±3.8 to 13.3±3.9 mm. Three patients had major complications and three had minor complications. During a mean follow-up of 21±17 months recoarctation was found in ten patients, seven of whom have undergone further procedures. There were no deaths at follow-up.
Conclusions: Stent implantation is a good alternative to balloon dilation in selected patients with coarctation of the aorta. However, follow-up evaluation reveals a varying incidence of recoarctation and the long-term outcomes need to be determined.
Keywords: aortic coarctation; stent implantation.