Balloon angioplasty of native coarctation of the aorta in adolescents and young adults

Balloon angioplasty of native coarctation of the aorta was performed in 35 consecutive adolescents and young adults, aged 14 to 37 years (mean 22.6 ± 7.1). Twenty-eight (80%) patients had isolated discrete coarctation, six (17.1%) had tubular hypoplasia of the aortic isthmus, and one (2.9%) had hypoplasia of the postcoarctation aorta. The peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from 78.5 ± 23.9 to 15.7 ± 11.6 mm Hg ( p < 0.001), and the mean coarctation diameter increased from 4.7 ± 2.4 to 13.1 ± 2.7 mm ( p < 0.001) immediately after angioplasty. Patients with discrete-type coarctation had significantly less residual gradient than patients with long-segment tubular coarctation (12.3 ± 10.7 vs 27.2 ± 6.6 mm Hg, p < 0.01). On recatheterization and angiography in 26 patients at 12.6 ± 1.5 months after dilatation, there was no significant change in gradient (15.5 ± 13.3 mm Hg) and diameter (13.1 ± 1.8 mm) from the immediate postangioplasty results. However, two patients had an increase in gradient and three had small aortic aneurysms with no change in appearance on restudy after 2 years. After 3 to 67 months' (mean 32.7 ± 19.2) follow-up, all patients showed continued clinical improvement. Hypertension was relieved in 37.5% ( 12 32 ) and improved in 59.4% ( 19 32 ). Our experience suggests that balloon angioplasty of native aortic coarctation in adolescents and young adults is safe and highly effective with sustained improvement on intermediate-term follow-up.