Neurological complications of balloon angioplasty in children

Summary We report on the occurrence of cerebrovascular accidents as a possible complication of balloon angioplasty in children. The first patient underwent balloon angioplasty for aortic stenosis and subsequently developed a right temporoparietal infarct in the vascular territory of the right middle cerebral artery. The second patient developed a right temporoparietal infarct also in the vascular territory of the right middle cerebral artery following balloon angioplasty of native coarctation of the aorta. This experience suggests that, in addition to the previously reported complications of balloon angioplasty, the occurrence of a potential cerebrovascular accident must be considered in the risk-benefit analysis of this procedure.