Feasibility and efficacy of stent redilatation in aortic coarctation.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the efficacy and safety of stent redilation in patients with aortic coarctation (COA). METHODS AND RESULTS: In our retrospective study of 28 stent redilation procedures on 22 patients, the interval between implantation and redilation ranged from 2.5 month to 11 years (median 18 months). Ten patients had native COAs, one had repaired interrupted aortic arch. The remaining patients had residual COAs after surgery. Stent redilation was successful in 26 procedures. Pressure gradients decreased from a mean of 26 +/- 13.8 mm Hg to 7.9 +/- 6.52 mm Hg (P < 0.001). The mean diameter of the stents increased from 9.19 +/- 3.29 mm to 12.1 +/- 3.68 mm (P < 0.001). In a patient with Williams-Beuren syndrome, massive neointimal proliferation made stent redilation impossible. One other patient developed aortic aneurysm after redilation and was operated after 3 years. CONCLUSIONS: Stent redilation for aortic COA is a safe and successful procedure.