[Congenital aortic coarctation in children treated by percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (8 cases)].

Balloon angioplasty was performed in eight patients aged 3-12 years (mean 7.5) with coarctation of aorta (CoA). Seven children did not undergo operation before, while one patient had re-stenosis after surgical repair of the CoA. Immediately after angioplasty, the mean systolic pressure gradient was reduced from 7.8 +/- 2.8 to 1.7 +/- 1.1 kPa and the CoA diameter increased from 3.9 +/- 1.7 to 9.0 +/- 1.8 mm. Follow-up study of 2-18 months showed a continuing gradient decrease in seven of eight patients. No aneurysm was found in this series, probably related to the appropriate balloon size. Our data suggest that balloon angioplasty is a safe and effective method in relief of the stenosis by congenital membranous aortic coarctation and postoperative restenosis of the coarcted aorta.