Abstract
Objectives: Showing safety and feasibility of coarctation stenting in small children by peripheral stents.
Background: Surgery and balloon angioplasty of the aortic coarctation are generally the first therapeutic options for small children. However, stenting can be useful when these two options are unsuccessful or carry a high risk. Coronary stents have been used in this situation and extracted surgically after a short time.
Methods: We have used peripheral stents in seven patients 3.2-10 kg of weight.
Results: Technical success was achieved in six patients (86%). One stent was removed surgically. Three stents were redilated. Two patients died of unrelated causes.
Conclusions: We recommend open cell stents, special attention to the femoral arteries, and limitation of x-ray radiation when coarctation stenting is performed in a small child.