Balloon dilation for aortic recoarctation: morphology at the site of dilation and long-term efficacy

Objectives: We undertook this study to assess the immediate and long-term o utcome of balloon angioplasty performed fur recurrent or residual coarctati on of the aorta, and to assess the changes in the vessel wall caused by thi s procedure. Methods: Clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic and hemodyn amic data from 71 patients who underwent balloon angioplasty for recoarctat ion between January 1987 and January 1998 were analysed retrospectively. Re sults: Angioplasty was performed after a median of 82.6 months (range 1.4 m o - 20.9 y, mean 88.5 mo) following surgery for coarctation. Mean systolic pressure gradients were reduced from 27+/-15 mmHg to 11+/-11mmHg after angi oplasty (p< 0.0001). The mean diameter at the site of recoarctation increas ed from 5.5+/-2.5 to 7.5+/-2.7 mm (p < 0.0001). Outpouchings of contrast ag ents, indicating the disruption of the inner layers of the vessel wall, wer e defined as extravasations. They were observed in one-quarter of the angio grams performed immediately after the intervention. Immediate success of an gioplasty was achieved in 71%, and persisted in 69% of patients during long -term follow up. The main determinant for immediate success was the age at the time of the procedure (p< 0.05), while the main determinant for long-te rm success was the increase achieved in diameter. Extravasations did not pr ogress to aneurysms, neither acutely nor during echocardiographic follow-up studies. For further follow-up, more sensitive imaging techniques will be necessary to delineate the morphology of the site of extravasation observed immediately after angioplasty.