Kang SL, et al. – Here the experts illustrated their experience with coarctation stent therapy in small children weighing less than 30 kg, with the low profile dilatable Valeo stent. They approved that implantation of the dilatable Valeo stent was a feasible treatment strategy in native or recurrent coarctation in small children, accepting that additional stent implantation might be necessary with somatic growth.

Methods

• In 14 consecutive children, coarctation stent implantation was undertaken with the Bard Valeo Stent.
• Demographic, angiographic, echocardiographic and clinical data were evaluated retrospectively.
• The median age at the time of procedure was 5.1 (2.6–7.5) years and median weight was 20.8 (14.7–27) kg.
• There was improvement in median coarctation diameter from 4 (1.3–5.2) to 9.5 (5.8–12.7) mm, p < 0.001; and a reduction in the median peak pressure gradient across the coarctation from 35 (20–49) to 9 (0–15) mmHg, p < 0.001.
• 7.9 (0–20)% was the median stent recoil.
• There was one case of access related complication that resolved without sequelae.
• Follow–up was a median of 15 (3.0–57.2) months.
• CT angiogram performed at a median time of 3.3 (2.6–10.2) months post procedure displayed no aortic wall injury and preserved stent integrity in all cases.
• 2 children underwent re–intervention for stent dilation and further stent implantation due to in–stent stenosis and somatic growth after 3 years.
• At last follow–up, six of fourteen children remained on a single antihypertensive agent post–intervention.