Late follow-up of balloon angioplasty in children with a native coarctation of the aorta

Abstract

Between May 1984 and April 1993, 59 children underwent balloon angioplasty of a native coarctation at our institution. The follow-up protocol included a cardiac catheterization 1 to 2 years after angioplasty, which was performed in 90% of patients with ≥2 years follow-up. Angioplasty caused an acute decrease in peak systolic gradient from 46 ± 2 to 15 ± 2 mm Hg, without early aneurysm or emergent surgical intervention in any patient. Based on follow-up data, a satisfactory result was obtained in 38 patients (64%; 70% confidence limit: 58% to 71%), defined as a residual systolic gradient <20 mm Hg and no aneurysm. In these patients the gradient decreased acutely from 43 ± 2 to 9 ± 1 mm Hg, was 6 ± 1 mm Hg at follow-up catheterization, and 9 ± 2 mm Hg by clinical evaluation 4.4 ± 0.3 years after angioplasty. Twenty-one patients (36%; 70% confidence limit: 29% to 42%) had an unsatisfactory result due to a residual gradient ≥20 mm Hg (n = 19) or aneurysm formation (n = 3), or both. Restenosis occurred in 6 patients, and occurred more in infants than in children ≥12 months of age (3 of 5 infants vs 3 of 41 children, p = 0.01). Thus, balloon angioplasty provides an effective initial treatment strategy for native coarctation in most children aged >12 months.