No abstract

Background: Coarctation of aorta is a common congenital cardiac malformation; controversy has surrounded the use of balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of aorta as the primary treatment for patients with various ages with coarctation. Aim: This study aimed to assess the long term outcome of balloon angioplasty especially concerning aneurysm formation. Patients and Methods: A case series (case followup) study was carried out on a total of 50 patients (31 male and 19 female) with native coarctation of aorta aged 1 -21 years of age who were treated with balloon angioplasty for more than 1 year at the time of follow up evaluation in surgical specialty hospital/cardiac center in Erbil Iraq. They were recalled and subjected to detail clinical examination, body weight, height, blood pressure measurements. Radiographic, Echo Doppler data, CT angiography were obtained. CT angiography was done for 34 patients. Full echocardiographic evaluation was done in follow up visits. Results: There was a significant reduction in the peak instantaneous pressure gradient across the coarctated area by Doppler echocardiogram gradient before balloon angioplasty and at the follow up visit from 56.92 ± 14.6 mmHg to 30.68 ± 16.89, P = 0.00. Six cases of total 50 patients had evidence of diastolic runoff pattern by Doppler Echcardiogram. While the only 6 of total 34 cases had the report of CT angiography that documented aneurysm formation (12%). Conclusions: Balloon angioplasty of native aortic coarctation can be performed safely and effectively with good immediate outcome. Furthermore, it offers satisfactory long-term results with low incidence of persisting restenosis, hypertension and aneurysm formation.