Intermediate follow-up following intravascular stenting for treatment of coarctation of the aorta

Very long-term follow-up after aortic stenting for coarctation of the aorta

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Stent implantation is the preferred treatment in older children and adults with aortic coarctation (CoA). We aimed to determine the incidence of very late events after CoA stenting.

METHODS

We analyzed a cohort of CoA patients who underwent stent implantation at our center between 1993 and 2018. Patients were periodically followed up in outpatient clinics, including computed tomography (CT) and fluoroscopy assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 167 patients with CT and fluoroscopy data were included: 83 (49.7%) were aged ≤ 12 years and 46 (28%) were female. The mean clinical follow-up time was 17±8 (range 4-30) years and the mean time to CT/fluoroscopy was 11±7 years. Aortic aneurysm was present in 13% and was associated with the PALMAZ stent (OR, 3.09; 95%CI, 1.11-9.49; P=.036) and the stented length (OR, 0.94; 95%CI, 0.89-0.99; P=.039). Stent fracture was frequent (34%), but was not related to the presence of aneurysm. Stent fracture was associated with young age (OR, 3.57; 95%CI, 1.54-8.33; P=.003), male sex (OR, 4.00; 95%CI, 1.51-12.5, P=.008) and inversely with the PALMAZ stent (OR, 0.29; 95%CI, 0.12-0.67, P=.005). Reintervention was lower in adults (10%), mainly related to aneurysms. Those treated when aged ≤ 12 years had higher reintervention rates (43%) due to recoarctation somatic growth.

CONCLUSIONS

This long-term follow-up study of CoA patients treated with stenting revealed a significant incidence of late events. Reintervention rates were higher in patients treated at younger ages. Periodic imaging surveillance appears to be advisable.

Long-term follow-up after endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation with bare and covered Cheatham platinum stents

BACKGROUND

Endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA) in children and adults frequently requires stent implantation. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term results after CoA treatment with bare and covered Cheatham-PlatinumTM (CP) stents in our institution and to derive recommendations for the differential use of these stent types.

METHODS

In this retrospective single institution study, 212 patients received endovascular CoA treatment with bare (n = 71) and covered (n = 141) CP stents between September 1999 and July 2021, respectively. The indications for treatment were native CoA in 110/212 patients (51.9%) and re-coarctation after primary surgical or interventional treatment in 102/212 patients (48.1%). Median patient age at endovascular CoA treatment was 18.8 years [IQR 11.9; 35.8]. Long-term follow-up was available in 158/212 patients (74.5%) with a median follow-up of 7.3 years [IQR 4.3; 12.6].

RESULTS

Procedural success was achieved in 187/212 (88.2%) patients. Survival rate was 98.1% after 5, and 95.6% after 10 and 15 years, respectively. The probability of freedom from re-intervention was 93.0% after 5, 82.3% after 10 and 77.8% after 15 years, respectively. Freedom from re-interventions (44/158, 27.8%) did not differ between patients who received bare or covered CP stents (p = 0.715). Multivariable risk factor analysis identified previous CoA surgery (HR: 2.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-3,9, p = 0.029), postdilatation (HR: 2,9, 95% CI: 1.1-6.3, p = 0.028) and age at intervention (HR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p = 0.002) as independent risk factors for re-intervention. Peri-procedural complications occurred in 15/212 (7.1%) patients (dissection/thrombosis of vascular access vessel: n = 9; bleeding: n = 1; stent dislocation: n = 2; aortic dissection/aortic wall rupture: n = 3). Long-term complications were observed in 36 patients and included stent fracture (n = 19), aneurysm formation (n = 14), endoleak (n = 1) and subclavian artery stenosis (n = 2). Peri-procedural and long-term complications did not differ between patients who received CoA treatment with bare or covered CP stents (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment of CoA using bare or covered CP stents can be performed safely and effectively with excellent long-term results. Survival, re-intervention and complication rate did not significantly differ between both stent types. However, individual stent selection is advisable with regard to CoA morphology and severity as well as patient age.

Descending thoracic aortic dissection after covered stent for adult aortic coarctation: Technical or physiopathologic?

Covered stent graft implantation is currently the most commonly used modality for the management of adult aortic coarctation. Although the risk of descending thoracic aortic dissection after covered stent graft implantation is low, sometimes it may cause serious medical consequences or even death. We report one adult aortic coarctation patient with early postoperative descending thoracic aortic dissection after covered stent graft implantation. The patient underwent second operation of thoracic endovascular aortic reconstruction and was discharged 6 days after the operation. This case is not rare, but we hope that the complete diagnosis and treatment process of this case and discussion pertaining to surgical treatment method and its complications could serve as a reference for clinicians in dealing with such situations.

Early outcomes of the treatment of aortic coarctation with BeGraft aortic stent in children and young adults

We report our experience and early outcomes of using the BeGraft aortic stent in children, adolescents, and young adults. BeGraft aortic stent (Bentley InnoMed, Hechingen, Germany) requires a smaller long sheath compared to other covered stents, and it has a low profile and adequate radial power. With these features, it can overcome some limitations in the treatment of coarctation, especially in children. This is a single centre retrospective analysis of 11 implanted BeGraft aortic stents in coarctation of the aorta between July 2020 and November 2021. The eleven stents were successfully implanted in 11 patients (10 males). The median age of the patients was 13.7 years (interquartile range 12-16 years), and the median weight was 43 kg (interquartile range 35-62 kg). In five patients, after the stents were opened completely by the first balloon, they were exchanged with a Z-MED II™ balloon, 1-3 mm larger in diameter, and the stents were redilated. The median catheter-derived systolic peak-to-peak pressure gradient was 23 mm Hg (interquartile range 16-37 mmHg) before the procedure and 3 mm Hg (interquartile range 1-5 mm Hg) after the procedure. Except for the partial femoral artery thrombosis in two patients, no other procedural complications were observed in our study. The median follow-up duration was 5 months (interquartile range 2-12 months). During follow-up, only one patient (9%) had stent narrowing that required dilation. Our initial results and short-term follow-up showed that the BeGraft aortic stent implantation and redilation can be performed effectively, safely, and successfully in the treatment of coarctation of the aorta.

Endovascular treatment of aortic coarctation with a novel BeGraft aortic stent in children and young adults: a single-centre experience with short-term follow-up results

OBJECTIVES

We present our experience and outcomes with the BeGraft in the treatment of aortic coarctation in a predominantly paediatric population.

METHODS

This study includes a retrospective analysis of patients who had Begraft aortic stent implantation between 2018 and 2020 from a single centre.

RESULTS

The BeGraft aortic stent was used in 11 patients (7 males, 4 females) with a median age of 14 (13-21) years and a median weight of 65 (46-103) kg. Coarctation was native in five patients and recurrent in six patients. Median stent diameter and length were 16 mm and 38 mm, respectively. The median peak-to-peak pressure was 30 (12-55) mmHg before the procedure and 5 (0-17) mmHg after the procedure. The stenting procedure was successful in 10 of the 11 patients. Stent migration to the abdominal aorta occurred on post-procedure day 1 in the 21-year-old patient, who had previously undergone surgical closure of the ventricular septal defect and balloon angioplasty for coarctation. After repositioning failed, the stent was safely fixed in the abdominal aorta. Strut distortion also occurred during balloon retrieval in one patient, but no aneurysm or in-stent restenosis was observed at 1-year follow-up. The patients were followed for a median of 14 (4-25) months and none required redilation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our initial results demonstrated that the BeGraft aortic stent effectively reduced the pressure gradient in selected native and recurrent cases. Despite advantages such as a smaller sheath and low profile, more experience and medium- to long-term results are needed.

Balloon-Expandable Cheatham-Platinum Stents Versus Self-Expandable Nitinol Stents in Coarctation of Aorta: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to compare the safety and efficacy of the balloon-expandable stent (BES) and the self-expandable stent (SES) in the endovascular treatment of coarctation of aorta.

BACKGROUND

Coarctoplasty with stents has conferred promising results. Although several nonrandomized studies have approved the safety and efficacy of the BES and the SES, no high-quality evidence exists for this comparison.

METHODS

In the present open-label, parallel-group, blinded endpoint randomized pilot clinical trial, adult patients with de novo native aortic coarctation were randomized into Cheatham-platinum BES and uncovered nitinol SES groups. The primary outcome of the study was a composite of procedural and vascular complications. The secondary outcomes of the study consisted of the incidence of aortic recoarctation, thoracic aortic aneurysm/pseudoaneurysm formation, and residual hypertension at a 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Among 105 patients who were screened between January 2017 and December 2019, 92 eligible patients (32 women [34.8%]) with a median age of 30 years (IQR: 20-36 years) were randomized equally into the BES and SES groups. The composite of procedural and vascular complications occurred in 10.9% of the BES group and 2.2% of the SES group (odds ratio: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.02-1.62; P = 0.20). Aortic recoarctation occurred in 5 patients (5.4%), 3 patients (6.5%) in the BES group and 2 patients (4.3%) in the SES group (odds ratio: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.10-4.09; P = 0.64). Only 1 patient (1.1%) was complicated by aortic pseudoaneurysm. Hypertension control was achieved in 50% of the study population, with an equal distribution in the 2 study groups at the 12-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the BES and the SES were safe and effective in the treatment of native coarctation.

Large Diameter Advanta V12 Covered Stent Trial for Coarctation of the Aorta: COARC Study

BACKGROUND

Covered stent implantation for treatment of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is effective and can prevent aortic wall injury. Prospective studies with long-term follow-up, including imaging, are lacking. We report the acute and long-term outcomes for use of the Large Diameter Advanta V12 covered stent for treatment of native and recurrent CoA.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study was performed including 70 patients (43 male), median age 17 years, median weight 57.4 kg with CoA who underwent implantation of the Large Diameter Advanta V12 covered stent. Annual follow-up for 5 years included Doppler echocardiography to calculate diastolic velocity: systolic velocity ratio.

RESULTS

CoA diameter increased from 5.6±3.6 to 14.9±3.9 mm (P<0.0001) and the pressure gradient decreased from 35.8±16.2 to 5.6±7.9 mm Hg (P<0.0001). Preimplantation diastolic velocity:systolic velocity of 0.6±0.16 dropped to 0.34±0.13 (P<0.0001) and was maintained at 5 years. Computed tomography angiograms at 12 months postimplantation demonstrated the stent:transverse arch diameter to be similar, 0.91±0.09 to postprocedure 0.86±0.14. Major adverse vascular events at 30 days and 12 months were 1.4% and 4.3%, respectively. Significant adverse events included three patients who required stent implantation to treat infolding. There were no mortalities.

CONCLUSIONS

The Large Diameter Advanta V12 covered stent is safe and effective for the treatment of CoA with an immediate and sustained reduction of the pressure gradient over 12 months and 5 years as assessed by preimplantation and postimplantation Doppler echocardiography and 12-month computed tomography angiography.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00978952. URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au; Unique identifier: ACTRN12612000013864.

The effect of coarctation degrees on wall shear stress indices

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital tightening of the proximal descending aorta. Flow quantification can be immensely valuable for an early and accurate diagnosis. However, there is a lack of appropriate diagnostic approaches for a variety of cardiovascular diseases, such as CoA. An accurate understanding of the disease depends on measurements of the global haemodynamics (criteria for heart function) and also the local haemodynamics (detailed data on the dynamics of blood flow). Playing a significant role in clinical processes, wall shear stress (WSS) cannot be measured clinically; thus, computation tools are needed to give an insight into this crucial haemodynamic parameter. In the present study, in order to enable the progress of non-invasive approaches that quantify global and local haemodynamics for different CoA severities, innovative computational blueprint simulations that include fluid-solid interaction models are developed. Since there is no clear approach for managing the CoA regarding its severity, this study proposes the use of WSS indices and pressure gradient to better establish a framework for treatment procedures in CoA patients with different severities. This provides a platform for improving CoA therapy on a patient-specific level, in which physicians can perform treatment methods based on WSS indices on top of using a mere experience. Results show how severe CoA affects the aorta in comparison to the milder cases, which can give the medical community valuable information before and after any intervention.

Long-Term Outcomes of the Coarctation of the Aorta Stent Trials

[Figure: see text].

Coarctation of aorta intervention: When covered stents should have been first choice?

Coarctation of aorta (CoA) is one of the common congenital heart diseases. The two approaches for intervention in CoA include surgical and transcatheter (TC). Out of the two TC interventions available, stenting has been proved better than balloon angioplasty. We have two types of stents; the conventional ones – balloon expandable and the covered stent grafts. The elective covered stent implantation in all CoA has not offered any advantage. However, there are peculiar situations, apart from acute aortic complications, when they should be considered the first choice. We describe our experience of three cases of coarctation stenting, in which covered stenting should have been the preferred choice. A 32-year-old female with Turner's syndrome and severe CoA developed dissection after balloon angioplasty which was successfully managed with a covered stent. A 27-year-old female with near atresia of aorta was managed with balloon expandable stent which remained underexpanded despite post dilatation. A 17-year-old girl with severe CoA and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) was managed with balloon angioplasty for the CoA and Amplatzer Duct Occluder I for the PDA. However, she developed re-coarctation in 6 months which was managed with a covered stent. Not all CoA requires the covered stents, but there are certain “high risk” CoA which require covered stent as first choice.

Long-term follow-up after recanalisation of aortic arch atresia

AIMS

Aortic arch atresia (AAA) is one of the rarest obstructive defects. The presence of this anomaly in adult age is uncommon. The typical anatomic feature consists of a complete occlusion of the membranous obstruction resulting in an acquired atresia without flow continuity between the proximal and distal segments. This feature is important in determining the feasibility of percutaneous intervention. The aim of the present study was to share long-term follow-up data of adult patients with AAA requiring percutaneous interventions for the management of this rare anomaly involving five different centres.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Retrospective data of 19 patients (12 males, 63.2%, mean age 32.2±18.9 years) diagnosed with AAA treated in five different centres between 1999 and 2017 were collected. All patients underwent percutaneous recanalisation by (1) radiofrequency (RF) system (five patients, 26.3%), (2) extra-stiff guidewire (12 patients, 63.2%), and (3) transseptal needle (two patients, 10.5%). All procedures were subsequently followed by covered stent implantation. Two patients developed complications during the procedure and one of them died. Over a median follow-up of 4.94 years, four (21%) patients were able to be weaned from medications for hypertension. All the patients underwent reassessment for recurrence or restenosis during the follow-up. Seven (36.8%) patients underwent successful stent dilatation with a balloon. After the intervention, one patient experienced a late complication; however, one patient died due to an unknown cause believed to be unrelated to the previous recanalisation procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous treatment of AAA is feasible with good long-term survival. This study reports the largest case series so far available in the literature.

Initial experience with a novel ePTFE-covered balloon expandable stent in patients with near-atretic or severe aortic coarctation and small femoral arterial access

OBJECTIVES

We report our experience of using the Bentley BeGraft Aortic stent in patients with severe or near-atretic aortic coarctation and small femoral arterial access.

BACKGROUND

Use of covered stent is recommended in some settings such as aortic coarctation with associated aneurysm, Turner syndrome, and coarctation with aortic atresia. However, currently available covered stents need larger sheaths that may limit their use in children and patients with smaller arterial access. Newer stents may overcome this limitation.

METHODS

Single-centre retrospective study of patients with severe or near-atretic aortic coarctation and small femoral arterial access.

RESULTS

Between July and October, 2019, five patients (median age 15 years) with near-atretic or severe coarctation were treated with a Bentley BeGraft Aortic stent. Long sheaths between 9 and 11 Fr were used to implant stents, which were dilated up to 12-16 mm. None of the patients had residual coarctation (gradient >20 mm of mercury) after stenting. None of the patients developed acute vascular injuries or local access related complications at the end of the procedure or during follow-up (range 6-10 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Bentley BeGraft aortic stents are important to consider in patients with severe coarctation and provided acute procedural success in patients with small femoral arterial access and widen the applicability in this patient population.

Acute and medium term results of balloon expandable stent placement in the transverse arch-a multicenter pediatric interventional cardiology early career society study

OBJECTIVES AND BACKGROUND

Coarctation of the aorta represents 5-8% of all congenital heart disease. Although balloon expandable stents provide an established treatment option for native or recurrent coarctation, outcomes from transverse arch (TAO) stenting, including resolution of hypertension have not been well studied. This study aims to evaluate immediate and midterm results of TAO stenting in a multi-center retrospective cohort.

METHODS

TAO stenting was defined as stent placement traversing any head and neck vessel, with the primary intention of treating narrowing in the transverse aorta. Procedural details, complications and medications were assessed immediately post procedure, at 6 month follow-up and at most recent follow-up.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven subjects, 12 (21%) native, and 45 (79%) surgically repaired aortic arches, from seven centers were included. Median age was 14 years (4 days-42 years), median weight 54 kg (1.1-141 kg). After intervention, the median directly measured arch gradient decreased from 20 mmHg (0-57 mmHg) to 0 mmHg (0-23 mmHg) (p < .001). The narrowest arch diameter increased from 9 mm (1.4-16 mm) to 14 mm (2.9-25 mm) (p < .001), with a median increase of 4.9 mm (1.1-10.1 mm). One or more arch branches were covered by the stent in 55 patients (96%). There were no serious adverse events. Two patients warranted stent repositioning following migration during deployment. There were no late complications. There were 8 reinterventions, 7 planned, and 1 unplanned (6 catheterizations, 2 surgeries). Antihypertensive management was continued in 19 (40%) at a median follow-up of 3.2 years (0.4-7.3 years).

CONCLUSIONS

TAO stenting can be useful in selected patients for resolution of stenosis with minimal complications. This subset of patients are likely to continue on antihypertensive medications despite resolution of stenosis.

Left Ventricular Remodeling After Transcatheter Versus Surgical Therapy in Adults With Coarctation of Aorta

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to compare remodeling of left ventricular (LV) structure and function after transcatheter stent therapy with remodeling of LV structure and function after surgical therapy for COA.

BACKGROUND

Transcatheter stent therapy is as effective as surgery in producing acute hemodynamic improvement in patients with coarctation of aorta (COA). However, LV remodeling after transcatheter COA intervention has not been systematically investigated.

METHODS

LV remodeling was assessed at 1, 3, and 5 years post-intervention by using LV mass index (LVMI), LV end-diastolic dimension, LV ejection fraction, LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), LV mitral annular tissue Doppler early velocity (LVe'), and ratio of mitral inflow pulsed wave Doppler early velocity and e' (E/e') ratio.

RESULTS

There were 44 patients in the transcatheter group and 128 patients in the surgical group. Compared to the surgical group, the transcatheter group had less regression of LVMI (-4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -5.5 to -3.7 vs. -7.3; 95% CI: -8.4 to -6.6 g/m2; p < 0.001), less improvement in LVGLS (2.1; 95% CI: 1.8 to 2.4 vs. 2.9; 95% CI: 2.6 to 3.2%; p = 0.024), and in e' (1.0 ; 95% CI: 0.7 to 1.2 vs. 1.5 ; 95% CI: 1.3 to 1.7 cm/s; p = 0.009) at 5 years post-intervention. Exploratory analysis showed a correlation between change in LVMI and LVGLS, and between change in LVMI and mitral annular tissue Doppler early velocity (e'), and this correlations were independent of the type of intervention received.

CONCLUSIONS

Transcatheter stent therapy was associated with less remodeling of LV structure and function during mid-term follow-up. As transcatheter stent therapy becomes more widely used in the adult COA population, there is a need for ongoing clinical monitoring to determine if these observed differences in LV remodeling translate to differences in clinical outcomes.

Early and late outcome of covered and non-covered stents in the treatment of coarctation of aorta- A single centre experience

Objective

Stenting of coarctation of aorta with covered or uncovered stents is the accepted modality of treatment in older children and adults. The indications which mandate the use of covered stents are still unclear. We attempted to study the early and late outcomes after stenting of native and recurrent coarctation of aorta with uncovered and covered stents.

Method

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent stenting for coarctation of aorta with covered or non-covered stents at our institute. Early and late outcome for both the groups were studied.

Results

Twenty patients underwent implantation of covered stent and twenty five patients had uncovered stent implantation. Patients in the covered stent group were older and had greater basal pressure gradient. More patients in the covered stent group had residual gradient >10 mm Hg after the procedure. There was no mortality or aortic wall injury in either group. Four patients in the covered stent group underwent planned re-intervention and two had unplanned re-intervention. None of the patients in the uncovered stent group had re-intervention. Higher incidence of late lumen loss was noted in the covered stent group.

Conclusion

Uncovered stents can be safely implanted with minimal risk of aortic wall injury in patients with low risk anatomic features. Covered stent implantation is associated with higher incidence of planned and unplanned re-intervention.

Autopsy in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD)

The adult congenital heart diseases (ACHD) population is exceeding the pediatric congenital heart diseases (CHD) population and is progressively expanding each year, representing more than 90% of patients with CHD. Of these, about 75% have undergone surgical and/or percutaneous intervention for palliation or correction. Autopsy can be a very challenging procedure in ACHD patients. The approach and protocol to be used may vary depending on whether the pathologists are facing native disease without surgical or percutaneous interventions, but with various degrees of cardiac remodeling, or previously palliated or corrected CHD. Moreover, interventions for the same condition have evolved over the last decades, as has perioperative myocardial preservations and postoperative care, with different long-term sequelae depending on the era in which patients were operated on. Careful clinicopathological correlation is, thus, required to assist the pathologist in performing the autopsy and reaching a diagnosis regarding the cause of death. Due to the heterogeneity of the structural abnormalities, and the wide variety of surgical and interventional procedures, there are no standard methods for dissecting the heart at autopsy. In this paper, we describe the most common types of CHDs that a pathologist could encounter at autopsy, including the various types of surgical and percutaneous procedures and major pathological manifestations. We also propose a practical systematic approach to the autopsy of ACHD patients.

Management of adults with coarctation of aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a relatively common congenital cardiac defect often causing few symptoms and therefore can be challenging to diagnose. The hallmark finding on physical examination is upper extremity hypertension, and for this reason, CoA should be considered in any young hypertensive patient, justifying measurement of lower extremity blood pressure at least once in these individuals. The presence of a significant pressure gradient between the arms and legs is highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are important as long-term data consistently demonstrate that patients with CoA have a reduced life expectancy and increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Surgical repair has traditionally been the mainstay of therapy for correction, although advances in endovascular technology with covered stents or stent grafts permit nonsurgical approaches for the management of older children and adults with native CoA and complications. Persistent hypertension and vascular dysfunction can lead to an increased risk of coronary disease, which, remains the greatest cause of long-term mortality. Thus, blood pressure control and periodic reassessment with transthoracic echocardiography and three-dimensional imaging (computed tomography or cardiac magnetic resonance) for should be performed regularly as cardiovascular complications may occur decades after the intervention.

Patient-specific three-dimensional aortic arch modeling for automatic measurements: clinical validation in aortic coarctation

AIM

A validated algorithm for automatic aortic arch measurements in aortic coarctation (CoA) patients could standardize procedures for clinical planning.

METHODS

The model-based assessment of the aortic arch anatomy consisted of three steps: first, machine-learning-based algorithms were trained on 212 three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) data to automatically allocate the aortic arch position in patients and segment the aortic arch; second, for each CoA patient (N = 33), the min/max aortic arch diameters were measured using the proposed software, manually and automatically, from noncontrast-enhanced three-dimensional steady-state free precession MRI sequence at five selected sites and compared ('internal comparison' referring to the same environment); third, moreover, the same min/max aortic arch diameters were compared, obtaining them independently, manually from common MR management software (MR Viewforum) and automatically from the model (external comparison). The measured sites were: aortic sinus, sino-tubular junction, mid-ascending aorta, transverse arch and thoracoabdominal aorta at the level of the diaphragm.

RESULTS

Manual and software-assisted measurements showed a good agreement: the difference between diameter measurements was not statistically significant (at α = 0.05), with only one exception, for both internal and external comparison. A high coefficient of correlation was attained for both maximum and minimum diameters in each site (for internal comparison, R > 0.73 for every site, with P < 2 × 10). Notably, in tricuspid aortic valve patients external comparison showed no statistically significant difference at any measurement sites.

CONCLUSION

The automatically derived aortic arch model, starting from three-dimensional MR images, could be a support to take the measurements in CoA patients and to quickly provide a patient-specific model of aortic arch anomalies.

Coarctation: A Review

Coarctation of the aorta occurs in 0.04% of the population, and accounts for approximately 10% of lesions in adults with congenital heart disease. It can occur as an isolated lesion or as a part of a complex defect, and is most commonly associated with bicuspid aortic valve, ventricular septal defect, and mitral valve abnormalities. Since the first surgical repair in 1944, the available treatment options have expanded greatly. Perhaps one of the most important advances in the management of coarctation of the aorta has been the development of transcatheter therapy for both native and especially recurrent coarctation of the aorta. Late complications, even after apparently successful treatment, are not uncommon. For this reason, lifelong follow-up is vital.

Arterial stiffness in adult patients after coarctation of aorta repair and with bicuspid aortic valve

Objectives: The coarctation of aorta is commonly related to bicuspid aortic valve. The aim of the study was to assess arterial stiffness in adults after aortic coarctation repair and to evaluate an impact of bicuspid aortic valve concomitance on arterial stiffness results.Methods: Fifty-eight patients after coarctation of aorta repair, 36 male, median age of 27.46 ± 10.57, were compared to 30 with bicuspid aortic valve and to 30 healthy, sex, age and BMI matched volunteers. Physical examination, laboratory analysis and non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness were performed.Results: CoA patients and BAV patients have higher central arterial stiffness parameters in comparison to healthy controls: AP (7.86 ± 6.56 vs 7.68 ± 5.96 vs 1.41 ± 3.82 mmHg, p < 0.001, p = 0.011, respectively) and AIx (18.81 ± 14.94 vs 18.06 ± 13.38 vs 4.41 ± 10.82%, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively). There were no differences of PWV between CoA patients, BAV patients and healthy controls (6.07 ± 1.20 vs 5.95 ± 1.20 vs 5.67 ± 0.73 m/s, p = 0.099, p = 0.278, respectively). In CoA group, there was correlation of PWV with age (r = 0.55 p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.29, p = 0.025), fibrinogen (r = 0.31, p = 0.039), glucose (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), ascending aorta diameter (r = 0.29, p = 0.026) and age at operation (r = 0.27, p = 0.041). Among group of BAV, there was a correlation of PWV with age (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), central AP with total cholesterol (r = 0.38, p = 0.036) and fibrinogen (r = 0.41, p = 0.024).Conclusions: The increased arterial stiffness occurs in both groups: patients after aortic coarctation repair and patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Concomitance of coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve has no influence on arterial stiffness augmentation.

The Challenges of Redo Aortic Coarctation Repair in Adults

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Aortic coarctation is a common congenital abnormality causing significant morbidity and mortality if not corrected. Re-coarctation or restenosis of the aorta following treatment is a relatively common long-term problem and the optimal therapy has not been elucidated. In this review, we identify the challenges associated with and the optimal management for recurrent aortic coarctation and the most appropriate therapy for different patient cohorts.

RECENT FINDINGS

Open surgery provides a durable long-term aortic repair, however, given the complex nature of the procedure, has a somewhat higher rate of serious complications. Endovascular repair, although less invasive and relatively safe, has limitations in treated complex anatomy and is more likely to require repeat intervention. Open surgical repair is more appropriate for infants that have not been intervened on and endovascular therapy should be reserved for older children and adults and those that require repeat intervention.

A case report: stent implantation to treat coarctation of persistent 5th aortic arch associated with interrupted 4th aortic arch

Background

Persistent 5th aortic arch is a rare cardiac anomaly that is usually surgically corrected during infancy or early childhood if it is associated with coarctation of the aorta. Here, we report an adult with coarctation of the 5th aortic arch who was successfully treated by stent implantation.

Case summary

An asymptomatic 32-year-old woman presented with hypertension and a significant arm–leg difference in pressure. On suspicion of coarctation of the aorta, a chest computed tomography was performed, leading to a diagnosis of an interrupted 4th aortic arch with coarctation of a persistent 5th aortic arch. Percutaneous catheter intervention using a PALMAZ large stent dilated to 12 mm resulted in a minimal peak-to-peak pressure gradient. The patient was discharged home after a 2-day monitoring without hypertension and arm–leg blood pressure difference. She remained normotensive with a patent aortic arch on echocardiography performed 10 months after treatment.

Discussion

As for simple coarctation of the aorta, stent implantation was feasible and effective in an adult patient with coarctation of the 5th aortic arch.

Management of Coarctation of The Aorta in Adult Patients: State of The Art

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a common form of congenital heart disease. Adult patients with CoA may be asymptomatic or may present with hypertension. Over the last few years, endovascular management of adult patients with CoA emerged as the preferred strategy. Stent implantation, though technically challenging, offers the best and most lasting therapy. In this paper, we will review technical considerations and outcome of patients undergoing stent implantation for CoA.

Adult Congenital Interventions in Heart Failure

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, occurring in approximately 0.8% to 1.0% of neonates. Advances in medical and surgical therapies for children with CHD have resulted in a growing population of patients reaching adulthood, with survival rates exceeding 85%. Many of these patients, especially if managed inappropriately, face the prospect of future complications including heart failure and premature death. For adults with uncorrected or previously palliated CHD, percutaneous therapies have become the primary treatment for many forms of CHD. In this article, we discuss the role of transcatheter interventions in the treatment of adults with CHD.

Stent Angioplasty for Critical Native Aortic Coarctation in Three Infants: Up to 15-Year Follow-Up Without Surgical Intervention and Review of the Literature

Management of neonatal native coarctation is debated till now. Surgical therapy remains an option but may be unwarranted in critically sick infants with complex lesions. Balloon dilatation has been employed but with early re-stenosis. Stent angioplasty has also been used but as a bridge towards definitive surgical therapy. Four critically sick infants with complex coarctation and additional co-morbidity factors underwent primary stent therapy as surgical intervention was denied. One patient had died earlier due to reasons unrelated to the procedure. Three survivors underwent multiple dilatations of primary stents as indicated. One of the three survivors did not require any further dilatation after the age of 5 years and remained stable till the time of reporting. High-pressure Cheatham Platinum stents were implanted inside the primary stents in two infants, who developed re-stenosis due to somatic growth. These stents were further balloon dilated at high atmospheric pressure. Femoral arteries in both of them were blocked but were re-canalized after balloon dilatation in one and stent angioplasty in the other. After a follow-up of about 15 years, all of them have been doing fine with acceptable Doppler gradients. They were normotensive and on no cardiac medications. It can be concluded that, though surgical repair remains a standard of care, stent angioplasty in selected infants with complex lesions is feasible and effective. Multiple dilatations can be performed without added risk of stent migration. Bio-absorbable and growth stents hold a promise for future use in such situations.

Current Transcatheter Approaches for the Treatment of Aortic Coarctation in Children and Adults

Coarctation of the aorta is a common congenital heart defect and can present at any age. Infants may carry a fetal diagnosis, or are generally diagnosed after auscultation of a murmur, although rarely present in shock. Those that escape early childhood detection typically present in adolescence and adulthood, generally with upper-extremity hypertension. Percutaneous therapies have evolved to include balloon angioplasty and stent placement, and generally are the preferred first-line therapy for most adolescent/adult patients. Percutaneous interventions are now viable options in younger and smaller patients. The advent of bioresorbable stents may provide further expansion of treatment options to very small patients.

Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Stents in Patients With Isthmic Coarctation of the Aorta

Endovascular stent implantation has become the treatment of choice for the management of patients with native coarctation of the aorta (CoA). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of self-expandable stenting (SES) with balloon-expandable stenting (BES) in the treatment of native CoA. In this single-center retrospective study, all patients who underwent SES or BES for the management of native CoA were enrolled. Patients were followed up for a median period of 35 (inter-quartile range 15 to 71) months. The primary outcome of interest was a composite end point consisted of death, surgical repair, re-stenting, re-ballooning, and hospital admission for hypertension crisis. The CoA diameter has changed from 3.2 ± 2.1 to 14.2 ± 4.0 mm in the BES group and from 4.6 ± 2.6 to 12.2 ± 3.7 mm in the SES group (both p <0.001). The procedure was successful with residual pressure gradient <20 mm Hg in 99.0% and 98.6% of patients in the BES and SES groups, respectively. Major adverse events occurred in 6 (8.7%) in the SES groups and 14 (20.3%) in the BES group (p = 0.053). Kaplan-Meier curve showed no difference between the 2 groups in terms of survival from major adverse events (p = 0.10), but when groups were matched for the propensity of stenting methods, SES was associated with lower major adverse events (p = 0.01). In conclusion, the SES and BES methods were safe and durable in our cohort with low rates of adverse events. After adjustment for the propensity of treatment with each stenting method, SES was associated with better outcomes. Regardless of the outcome of each method, it should be noted that the taken approach should be tailored to the patient's anatomy.

Transcatheter therapy of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with dual drainage and coarctation of the aorta in a single patient

A 12-year-old boy was found to have aortic coarctation and a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Historically, multiple cardiac pathologies, such as in the present case, required a surgical approach. We describe transcatheter treatment of the coarctation with a stent and occlusion of the partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with an Amplatzer vascular plug in a single patient without complications.

Coarctation repair-redo challenges in the adults: what to do?

Aortic coarctation is one of the most common congenital cardiac pathologies. Repair of native aortic coarctation is nowadays a common and safe procedure. However, late complications, including re-coarctation and aneurysm formation, are not uncommon. The incidence of these complications is dependent on the type of the initial operation. Both endovascular and conventional open repair play important roles in the treatment of late complications after previous coarctation repair. This article will review the incidence of late complications after coarctation repair and will discuss the treatment options for redo coarctation repair in adult patients.

Midterm to long-term safety and efficacy of self-expandable nitinol stent implantation for coarctation of aorta in adults

PURPOSE

Endovascular treatment of coarctation of aorta (CoA) by self-expandable Nitinol stents is one of the recognized treatment methods and may be an alternative to surgery or balloon-expandable stent implantation for CoA but there is little information about midterm to long term results of self-expandable stents.

METHODS

Sixty-two patients with CoA (40 men), with a mean age of 30.7 ± 11 years, (range 17-63 years) underwent stent implantation with Optimed self-expandable Nitinol stents between 2005 and 2014. Successful outcome was defined as peak systolic pressure gradient ≤20 mmHg after stent implantation. The patients were followed-up clinically and by echocardiography and in patients, in whom there was suspicion of recoarctation, CT angiography or recatheterization was performed.

RESULTS

65 stents were successfully implanted in all 62 patients. Peak systolic pressure gradient decreased from mean 62.4 ± 18 mmHg (range 35-100 mmHg) to mean 2.8 ± 5 mmHg (range 0-15 mmHg; P < 0.001). Stent displacement occurred in 3 patients during the procedure. These were managed successfully by an overlapping second stent. None of the patients had major complications such as aortic dissection, rupture, or vascular access problems. In follow up, only three patients had recoarctation, and two of these were managed successfully by balloon redilation or further stenting 16 and 18 months after the first procedure and one patient refused reintervention. There were two deaths, unrelated to the procedure, 12 and 78 months after the initial intervention. Follow-up of a mean of 45.5 ± 17 months (range 12-105 months) demonstrated no evidence of aneurysm formation or stent fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-expandable nitinol stents for the treatment of native and recurrent CoA is safe and has good efficacy with acceptable midterm to long-term outcome.

Aortic rupture during stenting for recurrent aortic coarctation in an adult: live-saving, emergency, NuDEL all-in-one covered stent implantation

We report a case of successful, life-saving implantation of a covered Cheatham Platinum stent, an all-in-one NuDEL catheter system, in an adult with aortic rupture after bare-metal stenting for re-coarctation of the aorta.

Avoidable costs of stenting for aortic coarctation in the United Kingdom: an economic model

BACKGROUND

Undesirable outcomes in health care are associated with patient harm and substantial excess costs. Coarctation of the aorta (CoA), one of the most common congenital heart diseases, can be repaired with stenting but requires monitoring and subsequent interventions to detect and treat disease recurrence and aortic wall injuries. Avoidable costs associated with stenting in patients with CoA are unknown.

METHODS

We developed an economic model to calculate potentially avoidable costs in stenting treatment of CoA in the United Kingdom over 5 years. We calculated baseline costs for the intervention and potentially avoidable complications and follow-up interventions and compared these to the costs in hypothetical scenarios with improved treatment effectiveness and complication rates.

RESULTS

Baseline costs were £16 688 ($25 182) per patient. Avoidable costs ranged from £137 ($207) per patient in a scenario assuming a 10% reduction in aortic wall injuries and reinterventions at follow-up, to £1627 ($2455) in a Best-case scenario with 100% treatment success and no complications. Overall costs in the Best-case scenario were 90.2% of overall costs at Baseline. Reintervention rate at follow-up was identified as most influential lever for overall costs. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed a considerable degree of uncertainty for avoidable costs with widely overlapping 95% confidence intervals.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant improvements in the treatment effectiveness and reductions in complication rates are required to realize discernible cost savings. Up to 10% of total baseline costs could be avoided in the best-case scenario. This highlights the need to pursue patient-specific treatment approaches which promise optimal outcomes.

Mechanical and microstructural analysis of a radially expandable vascular conduit for neonatal and pediatric cardiovascular surgery

In pediatric cardiovascular surgery, there is a significant need for vascular prostheses that have the potential to grow with the patient following implantation. Current clinical options consist of nonexpanding conduits, requiring repeat surgeries as the patient outgrows the device. To address this issue, PECA Labs has developed a novel ePTFE vascular conduit with the capability of being radially expanded via balloon catheterization. In the described study, a systematic characterization and comparison of two proprietary ePTFE expandable conduits was conducted. Conduit sizes of 8 and 16 mm inner diameters for both conduits were evaluated before and after expansion with a 26 mm balloon. Comprehensive mechanical testing was completed, including quantification of circumferential, and longitudinal tensile strength, suture retention strength, burst strength, water entry pressure, dynamic compliance, and kink radius. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the microstructural properties. Automated extraction of the fiber architectural features for each scanning electron micrograph was achieved with an algorithm for each conduit before and after expansion. Results showed that both conduits were able to expand significantly, to as much as 2.5× their original inner diameter. All mechanical properties were within clinically acceptable values following expansion. Analysis of the microstructure properties of the conduits revealed that the circumferential main angle of orientation, orientation index, and spatial periodicity did not significantly change following expansion, whereas the node area fraction decreased post expansion. Successful proof-of-concept of this novel product represents a critical step toward clinical translation and provides hope for newborns and growing children with congenital heart disease. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 106B: 659-671, 2018.

Transcatheter Repair of Congenital Heart Defects in the Young

In recent decades, tremendous medical advances have been made. Therapeutic cardiac catheterisation for repair of congenital heart defects has become the standard mode of therapy. Catheter techniques have progressed. They now provide temporary palliation, prepare the patient for surgical reconstruction, or offer a definitive repair. The main advantages of non-surgical procedures are avoidance of thoracotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, together with a shorter hospitalisation period and speedier convalescence. Paediatric interventions include: transcatheter device closure of congenital cardiac defects, balloon angioplasty and valvuloplasty, atrial septostomy, patent ductus arteriosus stenting in the neonatal period, vessel embolisation, and many others. Topping those interventions is the introduction of transcatheter valve replacement. The aim of this article is to review these interventions and present them in a simplified, vibrant, and up-to-date fashion. In conclusion, paediatric cardiac interventions have established their reliability and ever-expanding scope in the setting of congenital heart disease management. Nevertheless, success is dependent on selecting the proper procedure for each condition, which may also vary with each patient. Thus, it is highly dependent on the experience and expertise of the operator. With the current rate of technological innovation, more and more surgical procedures will eventually be replaced by catheter-based interventions with a great degree of safety and efficacy.

Early and Midterm Results Following Interventional Coarctoplasty: Evaluation of Variables that Can Affect the Results

Background and Objectives

Stent coarctoplasty has been approved as the treatment of choice for adult patients with coarctation of the aorta. We have evaluated the early and midterm clinical and procedural results after interventional coarctoplasty. Also, variables that can affect these results were evaluated.

Subjects and Methods

Gathering clinical, angiographic and procedural data, we evaluated the pre-specified outcomes, including procedural success, complications, the incidence of hypertension after coarctoplasty etc., after the procedure. The effect of pre-specified variables including aortic arch shape, coarctation type and etc. on the procedural result was evaluated.

Results

Between February 2005 through March 2014, 133 stent coarctoplasty procedures were performed. Median age was 23.5 years old (interquartile range [IQR]:19-28), and 105 (71.9%) were male. Nearly all of the patients were undergone stent coarctoplasty, mostly with cheatham platinum (CP) stents. There was no association between aortic arch morphology and acute procedural complications. Balloon length more than 40 mm (p=0.028), aorta diameter at the site of Coarctation larger than 2.35 mm (p=0.008) was associated with higher rate of restenosis during follow-up. Comparison between the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) before and after coarctoplasty showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of HTN (117 [91.4%] vs. 95 [74.2%] p<0.001).

Conclusion

Stent coarctoplasty is a low-risk procedure with favorable early and delayed outcomes. Most mortality is related to the patient's comorbid conditions and not to the procedure.

Unlikely culprit: congenital middle aortic syndrome diagnosed in the sixth decade of life

A 58-year-old woman was admitted with acute heart failure. She had a long history of resistant hypertension, with an unremarkable work up for secondary causes in the past. Her brachial blood pressure was 210/70 mm Hg, with ankle blood pressure of 100/70 mm Hg. CT angiogram revealed marked narrowing of the descending thoracic aorta between the left subclavian artery and the diaphragm, consistent with middle aortic syndrome (MAS). She was initially managed with diuretics and antihypertensives. Subsequently thoracotomy revealed a severely hypoplastic segment of the descending aorta. The diseased segment was resected and aortic reconstruction performed. Histopathology showed fragmentation of the medial elastic fibres and fibrosis of the medial and intimal layers. These findings along with gross aortic hypoplasia and absence of features of Takayasu's arteritis, suggest that our patient had congenital MAS. The patient has done well since her surgery. We believe this is the first case of congenital MAS reported in the sixth decade of life.

Immediate Outcomes of Covered Stent Placement for Treatment or Prevention of Aortic Wall Injury Associated With Coarctation of the Aorta (COAST II)

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to describe the safety and short-term efficacy of the Covered Cheatham-Platinum stent (CCPS) in treating or preventing aortic wall injury (AWI) in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA).

BACKGROUND

The COAST II trial (Covered Cheatham-Platinum Stents for Prevention or Treatment of Aortic Wall Injury Associated with Coarctation of the Aorta Trial) is a multicenter, single-arm trial using the CCPS for the treatment and/or prevention of AWI in patients with CoA and pre-existing AWI or increased risk of AWI.

METHODS

Patients were enrolled if they had a history of CoA with pre-existing AWI (Treatment group) or with increased risk of AWI (Prevention group). Pre/post-implant hemodynamics and angiography were reported. A core laboratory performed standardized review of all angiograms. One-month follow-up was reported.

RESULTS

A total of 158 patients (male = 65%; median age 19 years) underwent placement of CCPS. Eighty-three patients had pre-existing AWI. The average ascending-to-descending aorta systolic gradient improved from 27 ± 20 mm Hg to 4 ± 6 mm Hg. Complete coverage of pre-existing AWI was achieved in 66 of 71 patients (93%) with AWI who received a single CCPS. Ultimately, complete coverage of AWI was achieved in 76 of 83 patients (92%); 7 patients had minor endoleaks that did not require repeat intervention. Four patients experienced important access site vascular injury. There were no acute AWI, repeat interventions, or deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

The CCPS can effectively treat and potentially prevent AWI associated with CoA. Access site arterial injury is the most common important complication. Longer-term follow-up is necessary to define mid- and late-term outcomes.

Circumferential stent fracture repaired using a covered stent in a 42-year-old man with coarctation of the aorta

We present a case of circumferential fracture of aortic coarctation stent with severe re-stentosis presenting 16 years after initial stent implantation with end-stage renal disease. The patient was treated with a covered stent using the stent-in-stent technique. The use of an ultra-high-pressure balloon was proved necessary to overcome the tight, non-compliant stenosis.

Current management of coarctation of the aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (C) is the sixth most common lesion in congenital heart disease and represents a spectrum of aortic narrowing that varies from a discrete entity to tubular hypoplasia. This condition was once thought to be a relatively simple lesion that would be "cured" upon repair of the narrowing, however, despite relief of the anatomical obstruction the subsequent risk of early morbidity and death persists. This review outlines the optimal management strategy of this disease from neonatal to adult life and provides insights to approach this straightforward but challenging condition.

One stage surgical treatment of aortic valve disease and aortic coarctation with aortic bypass grafting through the diaphragm and aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES

To validate ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass grafting treatment for patients with descending aortic coarctation and an aortic valve disease.

METHODS

The three patients in whom a descending atypical aortic coarctation was associated with an aortic valve disease were treated with one stage surgical treatment with aortic bypass grafting through the diaphragm and aortic valve replacement in our heart center. Operative technique consisted of performing ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass grafting through diaphragm muscle and implementing aortic valve replacement. The mean time for extracorporeal circulation and occluding clamp of aorta was recorded. Blood pressure data for pre- and post-operation was measured in the limbs. Computer-enhanced transvenous angiograms of pre- and post-operation were applied for detection of aortic stenosis. The other adverse events were noticed in outpatient service during a follow-up period.

RESULTS

The mean extracorporeal circulation time was 54 ± 11 min. The mean time for occluding clamp of aorta was 34 ± 6 min. An arterial pressure gradient was totally corrected after surgical treatment. Post-operation computer-enhanced transvenous angiograms showed the grafts to be open with a fluent flow. The patients had no gastrointestinal tract complications. No adverse event was noticed during a follow-up period in outpatient service.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass is advisable for patients with descending aortic coarctation and an aortic valve disease.

Intravascular stent therapy for coarctation of the aorta

Intravascular stent therapy is considered a primary therapeutic option for most adults and adolescents with coarctation of the aorta. This review highlights the indications, technical considerations, procedural aspects, and limited long-term outcome data when using this intervention. Stent technology has continued to evolve with potential for further modifications since its inception in the early 1990s. The best therapeutic approach, e.g., stenting versus surgery, in the treatment of native coarctation continues to be debated due to the paucity of long-term clinical and imaging data in both groups.