Periprocedural and short-term outcomes of stenting of coarctation of the aorta in adults: A retrospective analysis from a series of seven cases

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a rare congenital heart disease for which ballooning or surgery is recommended in the early stages of life, however, in adult patients, stenting has emerged as the treatment of choice. Data on various techniques and outcomes of stenting in CoA in Indian patients are scarcely available. Materials and Methods: Seven adult patients of CoA treated at our center with stenting between the years 2018 and 2022 were retrospectively studied. All patients were analyzed for their clinical presentation, coarctation segment anatomy, use of various techniques for stent deployment, perioprocedural outcomes, and 3-month echocardiography (ECHO)-based follow-up with the study of gradients and clinical features. The use of various hardware to facilitate stenting was studied, and predictors of successful stenting were also defined in the analysis. Results: The mean age of the coarctation patients was 19.1 ± 3.7 years with a male-to-female ratio of 3:4. The mean systolic blood pressure at baseline was 162.5 ± 12.6 mm of Hg and mean diastolic blood pressure of 95.7 ± 5.3 mm of Hg. The mean peak systolic gradient across the coarctation segment at baseline was 46 ± 8.2 mm of Hg. Combined antegrade and retrograde access was used for stenting of CoA in four patients (57%). Good-sized isthmus was present in only three patients (42%), and balloon predilatation was required in three patients (42%). The use of combined antegrade and retrograde route, good-sized isthmus, and adequate balloon predilatation were predictors of successful wire crossing and stent deployment across the coarctation segment. The mean ECHO-based follow-up gradient at 3 months was 9.2 ± 2.5 mm of Hg. Conclusions: Stenting for native CoA with the use of Cheatham-platinum stents in adult patients is a highly effective and safe therapy. Longer-term follow-up studies are required to show the exact incidence of stent fracture and aneurysm formation after stenting.