[Angioplasty in aortic coarctation and recoarctation in children and adolescents].

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of percutaneous balloon angioplasty in children and adolescents with Coarctation and Recoarctation of the Aorta.

DESIGN AND SETTING

We dilated native coarctation and recoarctation after a complete hemodynamic and angiographic assessment of the situation in a young population referred to a university hospital.

PATIENTS AND INTERVENTION

In 22 patients with coarctation or recoarctation of the aorta, the systolic pressure gradient and the internal diameter of the stenotic area were measured before and after dilation, with a balloon catheter with an insufflation diameter no greater than the aortic diameter measured at the level of the diagram muscle. No infants were included nor patients with a rare aortic anatomy.

RESULTS

A significant gradient reduction from 36.59 +/- 12.03 mm Hg to 10.45 +/- 7.52 mm Hg, as well an increase from 4.54 +/- 2.04 mm to 8.05 +/- 2.82 mm in aortic internal diameter, were achieved with no complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Similar results were obtained both in native coarctation and recoarctation without significant complications. Age selection, aortic anatomy and balloon size were the major determinants of success.