Transluminal angioplasty for aortic coarctation in newborns and infants

Abstract It has been done transluminal angioplastic with catheter balloon in 14 patients who are under 1 year of age and who are affected by aortic coarctation. For this study, they were divided in two groups. The first one was formed by newborn children whose transcoarctation gradient was 52 mm Hg in average. The second group was integrated by 9 newborn children whose transcoarctation gradient was 59 mm Hg. After this experience was done the gradient descended to 9 and 15 mm Hg respectively. Twenty four hours later, two months later and over two more months, there were follow-up of the clinical situation, the evolution of the pulse, differential arterial pressure and the need of surgery. Of the first group only one of the patients, who is now 2 years old, is in good clinical condition; the others needed to be surgically intervened. Of the second group 4 patients, all of whom were over 3 months old at the time of the angioplastic had positive results. The rest needed surgical intervention.