[Angioplasty and stenting in treatment of critical aortic coarctation].

Objective: To present our experience in the endovascular treatment of native coarctation of the aorta, with important hemodynamic changes.

Methods: From May 2000 to February 2006, we studied seven patients with a diagnosis of native coarctation of the aorta. All of them accepted to participate in the treatment. All were subjected to careful examinations with complete clinical history, including electrocardiogram, X-rays, transthoraxic echocardiogram and angiography. All patients coursed with hypertension, and were being treated with one or two drugs to control their high blood pressure.

Results: We treated seven patients, with angioplasty and stenting, six men and one woman, the average age was 24.14+/-8.57 years, and the average trans-coarctation gradient was 80 mm Hg. The residual gradient after endovascular treatment was of a 4 mm Hg. We found aortic insufficiency in four of the seven patients, who improved after treatment, the high blood pressure improved also, and only three patients continue taking one anti-hypertensive drug.

Conclusions: There were few patients in the study, but we think that we must predilate the lesion before to release a stent in critical aortic coarctation.