Stent implantation for native coarctation of the aorta: Lessons learned from a case involving a 17-year-old patient

Recent studies have shown that stenting for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) may be an effective treatment modality for this disease. We report a case o f stent repair of CoA in a 17-year-old patient. An incompletely expanded st ent caused by a balloon rupture had been implanted in the femoral artery. S ubsequent implantation for CoA was successfully achieved using a high-profi le balloon catheter. Stent implantation may be an effective modality for Co A repair and may prove useful as an initial procedure for adolescents and a dults with CoA, However, one must consider that incomplete expansion of a s tent associated with dilatation balloon rupture can cause serious complicat ions. The current case raises important issues that require further discuss ion to improve the results of this procedure.