Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous reintervention in patients who underwent aortic coarctation stenting at an early age.
Methods and results: From 1993 to 2018, 177 patients with aortic coarctation were treated with stent implantation at our centre; 33 of them were treated at less than 12 years of age and required reintervention because of their rate of growth. The average age of the patients at the first and second procedure was 6±3 years and 19±7 years, respectively. At the reintervention procedure, 15 (45%) patients were treated with balloon re-expansion, and 18 (55%) were treated with re-stenting. Success was obtained in 30 patients (91%). The gradient across the coarctation changed from 22±10 mmHg to 6±6 mmHg, while the minimal lumen diameter increased from 9±6 mm to 15±3 mm. There were eight occlusions of the femoral artery (after the first procedure), and two covered stents were needed because of femoral bleeding. The mean follow-up time after the second procedure was 5±4 years. A third procedure was required only in three patients (9%).
Conclusions: Patients with aortic coarctation treated with stent placement at an early age can be successfully re-treated after the completion of their somatic growth.