Balloon angioplasty of long-segment aortic coarctation in the neonate

It is generally believed that balloon angioplasty of diffuse, long-segment aortic coarctation is not effective. In this report, we describe two neonat es with diffuse, long-segment coarctation in association with complex conge nital heart defects in whom we were successful in effectively treating coar ctation with transumbilical artery balloon angioplasty, Based on this exper ience, it may be concluded that balloon angioplasty of long-segment coarcta tion in neonates is feasible and effective, but confirmation in a larger gr oup of patients may be necessary prior to general adoption of this concept.