Aortic arch advancement surgery as treatment for aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch in children

Treatment of aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch is still a surgical challenge. The aortic arch advancement surgery has shown less re-coarctation frequency. To determine the re-coarctation frequency in patients who underwent aortic arch advancement technique for aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch and analyze the results. Retrospective and observational study of 38 patients who underwent aortic arch advancement in a third level Institution from 2002 to 2010. Twenty four males and 14 females all with aortic arch Z index diameter of < or = -2 were found. The median age was 2.6 months and the median weight was 3.8 kg. Twelve patients (31.5%) did not show post operative complications. Eighteen (47%) had only one complication; one patient (2.6%) had 2 complications and 2 (5.2%) had 3 complications. After a follow up of 3.7 years the frequency of re-coarctation was O%. With the previously mentioned technique the recoarctation frequency on medium and long term basis was 0%. From the anatomical and functional point of view, we believe this technique offers the best possible results.