Covered Cheatham-platinum stents for aortic coarctation - Early and intermediate-term results

OBJECTIVES This study sought to evaluate the use of covered Cheatham-platinum (CP) stents in the treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA). BACKGROUND Aortic aneurysms and stent fractures have been encountered after surgical and transcatheter treatment for CoA. Covered stents have previously been used in the treatment of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms in adults. We implanted covered CP stents as a rescue treatment in patients with CoA aneurysms or previous stent-related complications and in patients at risk of developing complications because of complex CoA anatomy or advanced age. METHODS Thirty-three covered CP stents were implanted in 30 patients; 16 patients had had previous procedures. The remaining patients had complex or near-atretic CoA. RESULTS The mean patient age and weight were 28 (+/- 17.5) years (range 8 to 65 years), and 62 (+/- 13) kg (range 28 to 86 kg), respectively. The systolic gradient across the CoA decreased from a mean (+/- SD) of 36 +/- 20 mm Hg before to a mean of 4 +/- 4 mm Hg after the procedure (p < 0.0001), and the diameter of the CoA increased from 6.4 +/- 3.8 min to 17.1 +/- 3.1 mm (p < 0.0001). The follow-up period was up to 40 months (mean, 11 months). All stents were patent and in good position on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging performed three to six months later. In 43% of the patients antihypertensive medication was either decreased or stopped. CONCLUSIONS Covered CP stents may be used as the therapy of choice in patients with complications after CoA repairs, whereas they provide a safe alternative to conventional stenting in patients with severe and complex CoA lesions or advanced age.