INTRODUCTION Stent implantation has become the treatment of choice for native aortic coarctation (CoA) and postsurgical aortic recoarctation (reCoA) in adults and adolescents.OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the immediate and long -term outcomes of patients with native CoA and postsurgical reCoA who underwent stent implantation in our center. PATIENTS AND METHODSThe data of 136 patients with native CoA and reCoA who underwent stent implantation between May 1999 and December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The study population was divided into 2 groups: 108 patients with native CoA and 28 patients with reCoA. Clinical and procedural characteristics and immediate and long -term outcomes after the intervention were compared between the groups. The use of antihypertensive drugs was analyzed in all patients. RESULTSThere were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of the study groups. The gradient before the intervention was significantly higher in the native CoA than in the reCoA group (P = 0.011), and the diameter of stenosis before the intervention was smaller in the native CoA group compared with the ReCoA group (P = 0.003). Procedural treatment was successful in 77.8% of the patients with native CoA and 78.5% of those with reCoA. There were no differences in the immediate and long -term outcomes between the groups. The antihypertensive treatment was tapered or discontinued in about 34% of the study population.CONCLUSIONS Stenting is an effective and safe procedure in patients with native CoA and reCoA, with good late outcomes.

IntroductionStent implantation is an effective therapy for aortic coarctation (CoA) in adolescents and adults.AimTo present a unique group of patients with native coarctation of the aorta older than or equal to 46 years treated with bare metal or covered stents.Material and methodsSince 2002 we have performed stent implantations by applying bare metal stents or covered stents using femoral access in 24 patients aged 46 and older.ResultsWe used the Mullins technique in all cases, implanting different stents: Palmaz, Cheatham-Platinum (CP), covered CP or Andrastents XL/XXL. Twenty-one procedures were elective and 3 were urgent. Eighteen bare metal stents (2 stents in one patient) and 7 covered stents were used. All procedures were effective (CoA gradient reduced < 20 mm Hg), despite 2 migrations of bare metal stents. Mean gradient was reduced from 50.6 ±15.3 to 6.8 ±6.5 mm Hg (p < 0.001) and mean lumen diameter of stenosed aorta increased from 5.5 ±2.5 to 14.9 ±5.2 mm (p < 0.001). One special case is discussed – a 49-year-old man with end staged heart failure and severe CoA, who underwent a rescue procedure with a bare metal stent. One serious complication – stroke of the central nervous system – was observed in a 53-year-old woman during covered stent implantation (symptoms resolved during rehabilitation process).ConclusionsStent implantation of native coarctation of the aorta is also a safe procedure in the eldest patients and is associated with persistent relief of aortic obstruction.