Age-related aspects of balloon angioplasty for postsurgical aortic recoarctation

Balloon angioplasty is now the elective technique for relief of aortic recoarctation, since it has low mortality, low morbidity, and good results at follow-up. Some concern exists concerning the possible increased risk in young children. To investigate such age-related aspects, we examined 58 children undergoing consecutive balloon angioplasty for postsurgical recoarctation. Of the children, 30 were younger and 28 older than 1 year. Recoarctation was more frequent with ventricular septal defect or other cardiac anomalies (p < 0.001). Systolic hypertension was present in 70% of children aged less than 1 year, but in only 32% of those older than 1 year (p < 0.001). The initial gradient was inversely related with the age at dilation (r = -0.28, p < 0.05), and correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.81, p < 0.01). The procedure was successful in 87% of children older than, and 86% of those under 1 year. Age was not related with residual gradient, nor with the percentage increase of diameter of the site of stenosis. After balloon angioplasty, systolic hypertension was still present in 37% of children younger than 1 year, and in 25% of those older than 1 year (p < 0.05). Three complications occurred in children younger than 1 year, and 6 in those older (p < 0.05). Our results show, first, that recoarctation occurs earlier in the setting of complex disease, second that children suffering recoarctation at a younger age are more likely to be hypertensive, either before or after balloon angioplasty, third, that balloon angioplasty has the same rate of success in children below or above the age of one year, although the procedure still carries a not negligible risk. Finally, the procedure does not carry a higher risk for those children below the age of 1 year.     

Causes of recoarctation after balloon angioplasty of unoperated aortic coarctation

During the 35 month period ending December 1987, 30 children, aged 14 days to 13 years, underwent balloon angioplasty of unoperated aortic coarctation with resultant reduction in coarctation gradient from 43.6 +/- 20.4 to 9.5 +/- 7.6 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). None of the patients required immediate surgical intervention. On the basis of results of 6 to 30 month follow-up catheterization data in 20 children, the patients were classified as follows: Group A, 13 patients with good results (gradient less than or equal to 20 mm Hg and no recoarctation on angiograms) and Group B, 7 patients with fair or poor results (gradient greater than 21 mm Hg with or without recoarctation on angiography). No patient developed aortic aneurysm at the site of angioplasty. Thirty variables were examined by multivariate logistic regression analysis and four factors were identified as risk factors for development of recoarctation: 1) age less than 12 months, 2) aortic isthmus less than 2/3 the size of the ascending aorta immediately proximal to the right innominate artery, 3) coarcted aortic segment less than 3.5 mm before dilation, and 4) coarcted aortic segment less than 6 mm after angioplasty. The identification of risk factors may help in selection of patients for balloon angioplasty. Avoiding or minimizing the number of risk factors may help reduce the chance of recoarctation after angioplasty. The intermediate-term follow-up results with regard to recoarctation are comparable with those after surgical repair of coarctation. Recoarctation after angioplasty was dealt with by repeat balloon angioplasty or surgical resection for those requiring treatment and clinical follow-up for the remaining children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Determinants of hemodynamic results of balloon dilation of aortic recoarctation.

Between October 1982 and May 1990, balloon dilation of aortic recoarctation was attempted in 27 patients. In 1 case dilation was not performed owing to suspected aortic perforation. The remaining 26 patients had 30 procedures. The age at the first dilation ranged between 2.6 months and 18.3 years. After dilation, systolic gradient decreased from 49 +/- 17 mm Hg to 20 +/- 17 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). A reduction of gradient to less than or equal to 20 mm Hg occurred after the first dilation in 17 of 26 (65%) patients. Residual gradients between 25 and 80 mm Hg were present in the remaining 9 patients. During follow-up of 2 months to 6.7 years, 5 of 17 patients with a good initial result developed further recoarctation (2 had successful redilation, 2 had reoperation, and 1 is awaiting repeat dilation). Of 9 patients with gradients greater than 20 mm Hg after the first dilation, 1 had successful redilation and 3 had reoperation. The remaining 5 patients are being managed conservatively. 2 patients developed aneurysms after dilation (1 immediately and the other at 2 months). In all, 15 patients (58%) had a good, and 11 (42%) a poor late hemodynamic result. Aortic diameters at different levels of the aortic arch and at the reconstructed isthmus (normalized to the aorta at the level of the diaphragm) were significantly higher in the group with a good late result than in that with a poor one. Balloon/aortic diameter ratio at diaphragm level also had a significant influence on the late results.     

Dual-balloon angioplasty of recoarctation of the aorta

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty is a successful method for treating recoarctation of the aorta after surgical repair. The procedure is usually performed with small balloons on 4 or 5 French (Fr) shafts (Gruentzig or Cook) in infants or large balloons on 8 or 9 Fr shafts (Meditech or Mansfield) in older children. In certain children, however, the 8 or 9 Fr shafts may be too large for insertion in the femoral artery, and the 4 or 5 Fr shafts may not carry a balloon large enough to effectively dilate the area of restenosis. We describe a case involving a 9-kg infant in whom recoarctation of the aorta was successfully treated with two small side-by-side balloon angioplasty systems.     

Relation of biophysical response of coarcted aortic segment to balloon dilatation with development of recoarctation following balloon angioplasty of native coarctation

Objective—To evaluate the role of biophysical response of the coarcted segment to balloon dilatation in the causation of aortic recoarctation.
Setting—Tertiary care centre/university hospital.
Design—Retrospective case series.
Methods—Records of 67 consecutive infants and children undergoing balloon angioplasty of native aortic coarctations were examined for an 8.7 year period ending September 1993. At 12 months (median) follow up catheterisation, 15 (25%) of 59 children developed recoarctation, defined as a gradient > 20 mm Hg. Stretch (balloon circumference − preballoon coarcted segment circumference/preballoon coarcted segment circum- ference), gain (postballoon coarcted segment circumference − preballoon coarcted segment circumference), and recoil (balloon circumference − postballoon coarcted segment circumference) were calculated from measurements obtained from cineangiograms performed before and immediately after balloon dilatation.
Results—The stretch in 44 children without recoarctation (2.18 (1.23)) was similar (p > 0.1) to that in 15 children with recoarctation (1.90 (0.65)), implying that similar balloon dilating stretch was applied in both groups. Greater gain (p < 0.05) was observed in the group without recoarctation (8.8 (8.0) mm) than in the recoarctation group (5.7 (2.7) mm) but this was not substantiated in the infant population. However, the recoil was greater (p < 0.001) in the group without recoarctation (5.1 (4.3) mm) than in the recoarctation group (2.1 (1.1) mm); this was also true in the infant group.
Conclusions—Greater recoil in the patients without recoarctation implies preservation of intact elastic tissue in the coarcted segment. In the recoarctation group, with less recoil, the elastic properties may not have been preserved, thereby causing recoarctation. There might be a more severe degree of cystic medial necrosis in the recoarctation group than in the no recoarctation group. This needs confirmation in future studies.

Keywords: aortic coarctation;  recoarctation;  balloon angioplasty;  cystic medial necrosis     

Balloon dilation for aortic recoarctation: morphology at the site of dilation and long-term efficacy

OBJECTIVES: We undertook this study to assess the immediate and long-term outcome of balloon angioplasty performed for recurrent or residual coarctation of the aorta, and to assess the changes in the vessel wall caused by this procedure. METHODS: Clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic and hemodynamic data from 71 patients who underwent balloon angioplasty for recoarctation between January 1987 and January 1998 were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Angioplasty was performed after a median of 82.6 months (range 1.4 mo-20.9 y, mean 88.5 mo) following surgery for coarctation. Mean systolic pressure gradients were reduced from 27 +/- 15 mmHg to 11 +/- 11 mmHg after angioplasty (p < 0.0001). The mean diameter at the site of recoarctation increased from 5.5 +/- 2.5 to 7.5 +/- 2.7 mm (p < 0.0001). Outpouchings of contrast agents, indicating the disruption of the inner layers of the vessel wall, were defined as extravasations. They were observed in one-quarter of the angiograms performed immediately after the intervention. Immediate success of angioplasty was achieved in 71%, and persisted in 69% of patients during long-term follow up. The main determinant for immediate success was the age at the time of the procedure (p < 0.05), while the main determinant for long-term success was the increase achieved in diameter. Extravasations did not progress to aneurysms, neither acutely nor during echocardiographic follow-up studies. For further follow-up, more sensitive imaging techniques will be necessary to delineate the morphology of the site of extravasation observed immediately after angioplasty.     

Fatal aortic rupture during balloon dilatation of recoarctation.

In an eight year old boy with a patch aortoplasty, the aorta ruptured during balloon angioplasty for recoarctation. At necropsy a 1.5 cm long, full thickness tear and a separate, smaller, intimal tear were found. Histological examination showed thinning of the elastic laminae of the aorta. Angioplasty for recoarctation may be dangerous in patients with a patch aortoplasty.     

Fatal aortic rupture during balloon dilatation of recoarctation.

In an eight year old boy with a patch aortoplasty, the aorta ruptured during balloon angioplasty for recoarctation. At necropsy a 1.5 cm long, full thickness tear and a separate, smaller, intimal tear were found. Histological examination showed thinning of the elastic laminae of the aorta. Angioplasty for recoarctation may be dangerous in patients with a patch aortoplasty.     

The reactivity of the contralateral artery at the time of balloon dilation during coronary angioplasty

The response of the contralateral arteries was investigatedduring balloon angioplasty of the left anterior descending artery.Thirty patients were studied. Coronary arteriograms were obtainedat baseline, during maximal balloon inflation and at the endof the procedure. Luminal diameter was measured by a quantitativecoronary arteriography analysis system. During balloon inflationthe luminal diameter of the proximal segment of the right coronaryartery increased by 24 ± 6% (P<0·05), and thatof the left circumflex artery increased by 0·6 ±6% (P=ns). Both returned to near baseline values after angioplasty.in patients with increased collaterals during balloon inflationthe left circumflex proximal segment increased more significantlythan in patients with unchanged collaterals. The luminal diameterof the distal segment of the right coronary artery increasedby 9 ± 8% (P<0·001) and that of the left circumflexartery by 8 ± 11% (P<0·01) during balloon inflation,returning to near baseline values after angioplasty. Thus, vasodilation of the contralateral arteries during ballooninflation at the time of coronary angioplasty occurs mainlyin the distal segments and appears to be related to an increasein collateral filling.     

Cutting balloon angioplasty

The Cutting Balloon is a unique angioplasty device used in percutaneous coronary interventions. The advantage of the Cutting Balloon is its ability to reduce vessel stretch and vessel injury by scoring the vessel longitudinally rather than causing an uncontrolled disruption of the atherosclerotic plaque. The atherotomes deliver a controlled fault line during dilatation to ensure that the crack propagation ensues in an orderly fashion. Lower balloon inflation pressures (4 8 atmospheres) are recommended with the Cutting Balloon. The Cutting Balloon also dilates the target vessel with less force to decrease the risk of a neoproliferative response and in-stent restenosis.     

Holmium laser angioplasty after failed coronary balloon dilation: use of a new solid-state, infrared laser system

A new solid-state laser system was used in a case of saphenous vein graft occlusion untreatable by standard very low-profile balloon angioplasty. The 2100 nm infrared pulsed thulium/holmium: YAG laser successfully recanalized an obtuse marginal bypass graft without complications. The holmium laser has several advantages over excimer systems and may prove an effective adjunct or alternative to coronary balloon angioplasty.