Balloon-expandable stents for recoarctation of the aorta in small children. Two centre experience

Background: In young patients with native aortic coarctation (CoA), the management of choice is surgery. However, in re-coarctation (re-CoA) surgery is associated with increased morbidity and even mortality. Some children with native CoA present relative contraindications for surgery.

Methods: From 2006 to 2017, thirty-four patients (male n = 20; 59%) from two centres with re-CoA (31) and native CoA (3) were managed by stent implantation with premounted balloon expandable stents. Inclusion criteria were age < 3 years and >1 month, weight < 16 kg. Median age was 6,5 months (min. 1; max. 34 months), median weight 6,2 kg (min. 3,7; max. 16 kg). Thirteen patients (38%) had Re-CoA and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). In three patients (9%) the native CoA was stented due to contraindications for surgical treatment.

Results: All procedures were successful. The median peak invasive systolic pressure gradient declined from 31 mm Hg (max. 118; min. 4) to 0 mm Hg (max. 32; min.-7) (p < 0.001). The median minimal diameter of the narrowed segment of aorta increased from 3 mm (max. 6,9; min. 1,0) to 7 mm (max. 11,5; min. 3,5) (p < 0.001). There were no serious complications. The median follow-up time was 12,5 months (max. 88; min. 0 month). During this time ten patients (29%) required re-dilatation and two of them re-stenting.

Conclusion: Percutaneous stent implantation for Re-CoA and in selected patients for native CoA can be performed successfully in very young patients with a good immediate hemodynamical result. However, repeated stent angioplasties and further on interventional 'opening' of the stent is necessary to augment the aorta to adult size.