<p><strong>Aim:</strong> The paper focuses on assessment of the late results and causes of complications when repairing coarctation with distal aortic arch hypoplasia.<br /><strong>Methods:</strong> This prospective randomized study included 54 patients who underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta. All patients were divided in 2 groups depending on the correction type: reconstruction using the modified reverse left subclavian artery flap plasty (Group I, 27 pts) or extended end-to-end anastomosis (Group II, 27 pts).<br /><strong>Results:</strong> A postoperative follow-up period was 26 (21;31) months. Recoarctation of the aorta during long-term follow-up was found in 1 patient (3.84%) in Group I and in 2 patients (7.7%) in Group II (p=0.5). Two patients in the Group I (7.7%) and 8 patients in the Group II (30.8%) had arterial hypertension (p=0.03).<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> With modern types of surgical correction used, the anastomotic area tended to proportionally grow in different segments of the aortic arch and did not influence the postoperative complications rate. Endocardial fibroelastosis and ascending aortic wall rigidity could be considered as predictors of arterial hypertension in the late period after coarctation repair in infants. Low body weight before surgery is a factor of aortic recoarctation development in the late postoperative period. Arterial hypertension persistence depends on the correction type. One-stage reconstruction of the distal aortic arch allows for reducing the rate of arterial hypertension from 30.8% to 7.7%. Despite a range of complications in the late postoperative period, the infants’ quality of life was not affected and was high in both groups.</p>

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<p>Coarctation of the aorta is a well-studied congenital heart disease. Our understanding of this congenital heart disease evolves every year from simple obstructive aortic lesions to systemic dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. In the past two decades, there has been a progressive decrease in mortality and early postoperative complications of newborns and infants with aortic coarctation. However, these patients with coarctation of aorta have a high risk of postoperative complications in the long-term period, despite successful correction at an early age. This review will focus on the issues mainly related to blood pressure. Arterial hypertension has been reported to occur in up to 90% of patients, and is considered as the main cause of premature cardiovascular diseases. The development of arterial hypertension in patients after correction of aortic coarctation is likely to be multifactorial and may be associated with the changes in elastic properties of the aorta wall, presence of residual obstruction, changes in the aortic arch geometry, immune-inflammatory disorders and changes in the regulation of renin-angiotensin and baroreceptors. Also described are the prevalence and pathophysiology of arterial hypertension in children who have undergone aortic coarctation repair. Due attention is given to the issues of accurate blood pressure measurement at an early stage of arterial hypertension. Although the patterns for diagnostics of arterial hypertension in adults are well established, we highlight the issues of premature cardiovascular events development in children and describe the techniques, which help provide complementary information for cardiovascular assessment in this group of patients.<br />Received 7 August 2018. Revised 6 December 2018. Accepted 10 December 2018.<br /><strong>Acknowledgment</strong><br />We would like to express our gratitude to Sergey M. Ivantsov for technical support.<br /><strong>Funding:</strong> The study did not have sponsorship.<br /><strong>Conflict of interest:</strong> Authors declare no conflict of interest.</p>

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<p>Treating patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect, who have hypoplastic native pulmonary arteries, is a challenge for cardiac surgeons. We have reported a case of successful pulmonary bed rehabilitation using a femoral vein allograft in a patient with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect. No similar cases with a detailed description of surgery stages and pulmonary artery development supported by illustrative materials are described both in the literature. The strategy of rehabilitation of the native pulmonary artery bed facilitates antegrade pulmonary blood flow, increases native pulmonary arteries growth, contributes to successful implementation of staged endovascular interventions and allows for complete repair. The technique of “short” cardiopulmonary bypass with induced ventricular fibrillation is a safe and effective option for such patients. This clinical case might be useful in medical practice of pediatric cardiac surgeons involved in the problem of pulmonary artery rehabilitation.</p><p>Received 4 June 2018. Revised 4 July 2018. Accepted 5 July 2018.</p><p><strong>Informed consent:</strong> The legal representative (infant’s mother) has voluntarily given her written informed consent to use the infant’s medical data obtained in the course of treatment for scientific purposes and for their publication.</p><p><strong>Funding:</strong> The study had no sponsorship.</p><p><strong>Conflict of interest:</strong> Authors declare no conflict of interest.</p>