Angiographic follow-up after balloon angioplasty for coarctation of the aorta

Balloon angioplasty for coarctation of the aorta was performed in 45 patients; 17 (Group 1) were infants (mean age 34 +/- 43 days). This study focuses on the remaining 28 patients (Group 2), children and adults ranging in age from 2 to 31 years (mean 13 +/- 8). Two patients had had previous surgery for coarctation; in the remaining 26 the coarctation had not been surgically treated. Twenty patients (71%) had a discrete type of coarctation; the remaining eight had a diffuse or eccentric stenosis. Angiographic studies of the aorta were performed before and immediately after angioplasty in all 28 patients; 16 (57%) of them also underwent angiographic reevaluation 10 +/- 2 months later. The pressure gradient decreased immediately after angioplasty and was unchanged at follow-up. Residual gradient at follow-up ranged from 0 to 40 mm Hg (mean 11 +/- 13). Patients with a discrete type of coarctation had a lesser residual gradient than did patients with other anatomic types of coarctation. Angiographically, the stenosis also decreased after angioplasty (68 +/- 10% versus 24 +/- 17%; p less than 0.01); a new small, but significant decrease was observed at follow-up (9 +/- 18%; p less than 0.05). A quantitative analysis of the aorta at different levels revealed no significant changes proximal and distal to the coarctation segment; however, at the level of coarctation, a significant (p less than 0.01) and homogeneous increment was observed after dilation that was unchanged at follow-up. One (6%) of 16 reevaluated patients had a clear aneurysm at the site of dilation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta

Twenty-six children, aged 5 weeks to 14.7 years, underwent percutaneous balloon angioplasty for a discrete native coarctation of the aorta. The procedure reduced the systolic coarctation gradient acutely in all children. The mean systolic gradient decreased by 75%, from 48.6 +/- 2.4 before to 12.3 +/- 1.9 mm Hg after angioplasty (p less than 0.001). Long-term results were evaluated in 14 children by follow-up catheterization 12 to 26 months (mean 15.3) after angioplasty. At follow-up, the residual gradient averaged 11.7 +/- 3.7 mm Hg (range -5 to 36) and had not changed from that measured immediately after angioplasty (p = 0.64). Compared with preangioplasty values, the systolic pressure in the ascending aorta had improved substantially at follow-up (116.0 +/- 3.2 versus 143.9 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, p less than 0.001). On the basis of follow-up data, two groups of children were identified: Group 1 consisted of nine children with a good result, defined as a residual gradient less than 20 mm Hg and no aneurysm; Group 2 consisted of five children with a poor result, four with a residual gradient greater than 20 mm Hg (range 25 to 36) and one with an aneurysm at the dilation site. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in age at angioplasty, balloon size, ratio of balloon to isthmus diameters, follow-up duration, heart rate or cardiac output. However, of the four children with a residual gradient greater than 20 mm Hg, two were the youngest in the study, and in two the aorta was inadvertently dilated with a balloon 4 to 5 mm smaller than the isthmus diameter.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pseudo-aneurysm formation following balloon angioplasty for recurrent coarctation of the aorta

Intraluminal balloon dilatation of re-stenosis encountered after operative repair of coarctation of the aorta has been recently advocated. A case is presented that demonstrates a potential serious complication of this procedure: rupture of the aortic wall with pseudoaneurysm formation. The operative repair and mechanism of injury are discussed. Balloon dilatation of recurrent coarctation of the aorta can cause a significant morbidity and potential mortality.     

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty in restenosis of coarctation of the aorta

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty was performed in five children with coarctation restenosis. After angioplasty the pressure gradient had decreased considerably in four patients. In all patients aortography showed an increase in the diameter of the lumen at the site of the restenosis. All patients were normotensive the day after angioplasty. There were no complications during or after the procedure.     

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty in restenosis of coarctation of the aorta.

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty was performed in five children with coarctation restenosis. After angioplasty the pressure gradient had decreased considerably in four patients. In all patients aortography showed an increase in the diameter of the lumen at the site of the restenosis. All patients were normotensive the day after angioplasty. There were no complications during or after the procedure.     

Surgical repair is safe and effective after unsuccessful balloon angioplasty of native coarctation of the aorta.

Since 1985 balloon angioplasty, followed by surgical repair if angioplasty is unsuccessful, has been used as a treatment strategy for eligible children with discrete native coarctation of the aorta. Although balloon angioplasty has been successful in most patients, this strategy is appropriate only if surgery is safe and effective in children in whom angioplasty does not succeed. To address this issue, the surgical procedure and clinical outcome in 11 children who underwent surgery after unsuccessful balloon angioplasty (defined as a residual systolic gradient greater than 20 mm Hg in 10 and a saccular aneurysm in 1) were evaluated. Data for subjects were compared with data for a control group of seven children who had surgical repair of a discrete coarctation without prior angioplasty during the same time period. In the study group, balloon angioplasty was performed at 4.3 +/- 1.2 years of age, resulting in a balloon/isthmus ratio of 0.98 +/- 0.05 and decreasing mean peak systolic gradient from 54 +/- 3 to 27 +/- 2 mm Hg (p less than 0.001). Follow-up angiography (n = 7) or nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (n = 4) documented a discrete residual stenosis in 10 patients and a small saccular aneurysm in 1. Collateral circulation decreased in three patients. The subsequent surgical procedure and its outcome were similar in the study and control groups. Chylothorax was the only complication, occurring in one child from each group. No paraplegia or mortality occurred. Pathologic examination revealed irregular intimal surfaces with small flaps of intima in 5 of 10 resected specimens from the study group and in 2 of 6 from the control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Combined brachial and femoral approach to balloon angioplasty in coarctation of aorta

Transfemoral balloon angioplasty of native aortic coarctation was initially not feasible in two patients, because of inability to cannulate the femoral artery percutaneously in one, and to cross the coarctation in the other. The percutaneous brachial approach helped overcome both these problems, after which utilization of intravascular snares allowed successful transfemoral completion of angioplasty. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 42:196–200, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Paradoxical hypertension after repair of coarctation of the aorta in children: balloon angioplasty versus surgical repair

The incidence and possible causes of paradoxical hypertension were evaluated in eight children who underwent balloon dilatation and seven children who underwent surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta. Both procedures resulted in a significant reduction in the coarctation gradient. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased in the surgical group after repair, whereas systolic pressures decreased and diastolic pressures remained unchanged after balloon angioplasty. In the surgical group, but not in the balloon angioplasty group, plasma catecholamines and plasma renin activity rose during the first 2 days after relief of the coarctation. The data presented in this report support the hypothesis that the sympathetic nervous system and the renin angiotensin system are important mediators of the paradoxical hypertension that occurs after surgical repair of coarctation. Furthermore, balloon angioplasty of coarctation of the aorta does not stimulate either system and thus paradoxical hypertension is not a complication of this procedure.     

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)     

Percutaneous balloon catheter angioplasty of coarctation of the abdominal aorta: report of two cases

Two patients with coarctation of the abdominal aorta are reported. They both underwent successful transluminal balloon angioplasty. The immediate and short-term results have been excellent. This method and its role in the treatment of coarctation of the abdominal aorta are discussed.     

经皮球囊血管成形术治疗先天性主动脉缩窄远期随访及疗效评价

目的总结经皮球囊血管成形术治疗先天性主动脉缩窄随访结果,以评价该介入方法的长期疗效及影响疗效的因素。方法1987年9月至1999年8月,我院共有24例先天性主动脉缩窄患儿接受了27次经皮球囊血管成形术治疗,其中19例为局限性峡部缩窄(隔膜型),4例为主动脉弓发育不良型,1例为手术后再狭窄。选择的球囊直径一般不超过缩窄段近端主动脉直径(11.06±2.80)mm与(11.78±3.18)mm,球囊/缩窄段之比为2～4(平均2.57±0.68)。术后随访6个月-12年,平均(6.2±2.8)年。跨缩窄段压差≤20mmHg(1mmHg=0.133kPa)为疗效良好。结果术后跨缩窄段压差由(48.2±14.7)mmHg下降至(15.0±13.1)mmHg(P<0.01),缩窄段直径由(4.7±2.4)mm增加至(8.8±3.3)mm(P<0.01)。19例(79％)即刻疗效良好。5例疗效不良患儿中,4例为主动脉弓发育不良型,1例为隔膜型。19例疗效良好患儿中,18例为隔膜型,1例为手术后再狭窄。1例隔膜型初次疗效良好的患儿随访中压差上升至30mmHg,2年半后接受第二次扩张术并获良好疗效;1例发育不良型患儿即刻疗效不佳,7年后再次行扩张术但疗效仍不理想;1例隔膜型但初次疗效不佳的患儿7年后再次行扩张术获良好效果。随访中无动脉瘤及其他并发症发生。结论经皮球囊血管成形术可有效治疗手术后复发性或隔膜型主动脉缩窄,对发育不良型主动脉缩窄治疗效果不佳。     

Cystic medial necrosis in coarctation of the aorta: a potential factor contributing to adverse consequences observed after percutaneous balloon angioplasty of coarctation sites

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has been shown to be both feasible and efficacious for the treatment of aortic coarctation. Recent reports, however, have indicated that the development of aortic aneurysms at or near the coarctation segment may complicate attempts to treat this lesion by catheter-based intervention. Accordingly, we examined the light microscopic features of coarctation segments excised at surgery (n = 31) or obtained at autopsy (n = 2) in 33 patients with coarctation of the aorta. Cystic medial necrosis, defined as depletion and disarray of elastic tissue, was observed in each of the 33 specimens. In the majority of coarctation specimens (22 of 33 or 67%) the extent of cystic medial necrosis, graded semiquantitatively on a scale of 0 (normal aorta) to 3+, was severe (3+). The finding that cystic medial necrosis represents a consistent histologic feature of coarctation of the aorta provides a pathologic basis for the formation of aneurysms observed after balloon angioplasty of coarctation sites.