Balloon Angioplasty for Native Coarctation of the Aorta in Neonates and Infants With Congestive Heart Failure

Abstract

Balloon angioplasty (BA) is an alternative to surgical repair for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in children. However, its role in the treatment of native CoA in neonates and infants remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to report the midterm outcomes of BA for native CoA in neonates and infants with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: Between July 2000 and March 2007, 18 neonates and infants with native CoA and CHF who underwent BA were enrolled. Patients without recoarctation were designated as group A, while those with recoarctation or CHF were designated as group B. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, and outcomes were compared between groups. Results: There were 10 patients in group A and eight in group B. The mean age was 2.8 ± 3.1 months (range, 0.7–11 months). Mean body weight was 4.0 ± 1.9 kg (range, 2.1–8.0 kg). CHF improved markedly in all patients immediately after BA, with a reduction in systolic pressure gradient from 36.4 ± 12.0 to 5.6 ± 6.0 mmHg (p 10 mmHg (p = 0.007) and CoA diameter 10 mmHg or whose CoA diameter is < 3 mm.

Keywords

• balloon angioplasty
• coarctation of the aorta
• congestive heart failure
• infant
• neonate