Complications of Aortic Stenting in Patients below 20 Years Old: Immediate and Intermediate Follow-Up

BACKGROUND Optimal timing and mode of treatment for patients with coarctation of the aorta (COA) remain controversial, particularly in children. Surgery, balloon dilatation, and stent implantation have all proven effective in the treatment of moderate or severe obstruction. The aim of this study was to investigate the complications of COA stenting angioplasty in pediatric patients. METHODS This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted on patients less than 20 years of age who underwent aortic stenting angioplasty because of congenital COA in the pediatric catheterization laboratory of Rajaie cardiovascular, medical and research Center, Tehran between 2005 and 2010. RESULTS A total of 26 patients (18 [65.4%] males and 9 [34.6%] females) with congenital COA who had undergone aortic stenting angioplasty were recruited. Nineteen (73.1%) of these patients had native COA and 7 (26.9%) had recurrent COA. Most of the early complications were minor and temporary; only one patient developed early major complications. During the follow-up, whereas none of the native group patients developed late complications, in the re-COA group 28.57% of the patients had re-stenosis and 14.28% had chronic systemic hypertension, requiring drug therapy. CONCLUSION Our investigation into post-stenting complications in patients with native COA and re-COA showed that endovascular stenting could be an effective and safe method, even in young patients with native COA.