Early and late outcome of covered and non-covered stents in the treatment of coarctation of aorta- A single centre experience

Objective

Stenting of coarctation of aorta with covered or uncovered stents is the accepted modality of treatment in older children and adults. The indications which mandate the use of covered stents are still unclear. We attempted to study the early and late outcomes after stenting of native and recurrent coarctation of aorta with uncovered and covered stents.

Method

This is a retrospective study of patients who underwent stenting for coarctation of aorta with covered or non-covered stents at our institute. Early and late outcome for both the groups were studied.

Results

Twenty patients underwent implantation of covered stent and twenty five patients had uncovered stent implantation. Patients in the covered stent group were older and had greater basal pressure gradient. More patients in the covered stent group had residual gradient >10 mm Hg after the procedure. There was no mortality or aortic wall injury in either group. Four patients in the covered stent group underwent planned re-intervention and two had unplanned re-intervention. None of the patients in the uncovered stent group had re-intervention. Higher incidence of late lumen loss was noted in the covered stent group.

Conclusion

Uncovered stents can be safely implanted with minimal risk of aortic wall injury in patients with low risk anatomic features. Covered stent implantation is associated with higher incidence of planned and unplanned re-intervention.

Increased prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in adults with repaired coarctation of aorta

Background

Left ventricular (LV) pressure overload and coronary artery disease are common in patients with coarctation of aorta (COA), and they are risk factors for LV diastolic dysfunction. Patients with COA may have aortic vasculopathy that can result in LV pressure overload even in the absence of hemodynamically significant COA. We therefore hypothesized that patients with mild COA (without hemodynamically significant COA) will have more LV diastolic dysfunction compared to controls.

Methods

Adult patients with mild COA (Doppler peak velocity < 2.5 m/s) were matched 1:1 to patients without structural heart disease using propensity score method based on age, sex, body mass index, hypertension and blood pressure. The objective was to compare LV diastolic dysfunction (defined as E/e′ > 2 standard deviations above age-specific normative values) between adults with repaired COA and controls.

Results

Of 204 COA and 204 control patients (age 35 ± 12 years), patients with COA had higher septal and lateral E/e′ ratio (12 ± 4 vs 9 ± 4, p = 0.009) and (10 ± 3 vs 7 ± 3, p < 0.001), respectively. Compared to controls, the prevalence of LV diastolic dysfunction was higher in patients with COA for every age group: <40 years (63% vs 13%, p < 0.001); 41–60 years (87% vs 33%, p < 0.001); age > 60 years (82% vs 56%, p = 0.076). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was the strongest determinant of E/e′ (β = 2.71 per 10 g/m², standard error = 1.25, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

LV diastolic dysfunction was common in patients with COA, and the association with LVMI suggests that patients with COA may have ongoing LV pressure overload in the absence of hemodynamically significant re-coarctation.

Management of adults with coarctation of aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a relatively common congenital cardiac defect often causing few symptoms and therefore can be challenging to diagnose. The hallmark finding on physical examination is upper extremity hypertension, and for this reason, CoA should be considered in any young hypertensive patient, justifying measurement of lower extremity blood pressure at least once in these individuals. The presence of a significant pressure gradient between the arms and legs is highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and treatment are important as long-term data consistently demonstrate that patients with CoA have a reduced life expectancy and increased risk of cardiovascular complications. Surgical repair has traditionally been the mainstay of therapy for correction, although advances in endovascular technology with covered stents or stent grafts permit nonsurgical approaches for the management of older children and adults with native CoA and complications. Persistent hypertension and vascular dysfunction can lead to an increased risk of coronary disease, which, remains the greatest cause of long-term mortality. Thus, blood pressure control and periodic reassessment with transthoracic echocardiography and three-dimensional imaging (computed tomography or cardiac magnetic resonance) for should be performed regularly as cardiovascular complications may occur decades after the intervention.

Subpleural Lung Changes Adjacent to Enlarged Internal Mammary Artery in Patients with Coarctation of Aorta and Pulmonary Hypoplasia: Some Thoughts on an Interesting Observation

Irregular pleural interface, minimally reduced lung density and/or focal subpleural cystic lung changes were noted in two patients with coarctation of aorta and in a patient with the right pulmonary hypoplasia. Lesions were distributed in the anterior segments of upper lobes, adjacent to internal mammary arteries (IMA). In view of unusual location of lung changes with unique distribution pattern prompted us to look for ‘cause and effect’ relation of events specific to long standing vascular pulsations, thus explaining the lung changes. While there are multiple factors for cystic lung disease, special distribution the lung changes seen in our patients leads us to explore mechanical process such as water hammer effect by dilated tortuous pulsatile IMA on the lungs as an additional etiology. A brief note on clinical and imaging appearance of our patients and discussion regarding water hammer theory are presented.

Arterial stiffness in adult patients after coarctation of aorta repair and with bicuspid aortic valve

Objectives: The coarctation of aorta is commonly related to bicuspid aortic valve. The aim of the study was to assess arterial stiffness in adults after aortic coarctation repair and to evaluate an impact of bicuspid aortic valve concomitance on arterial stiffness results.Methods: Fifty-eight patients after coarctation of aorta repair, 36 male, median age of 27.46 ± 10.57, were compared to 30 with bicuspid aortic valve and to 30 healthy, sex, age and BMI matched volunteers. Physical examination, laboratory analysis and non-invasive assessment of arterial stiffness were performed.Results: CoA patients and BAV patients have higher central arterial stiffness parameters in comparison to healthy controls: AP (7.86 ± 6.56 vs 7.68 ± 5.96 vs 1.41 ± 3.82 mmHg, p < 0.001, p = 0.011, respectively) and AIx (18.81 ± 14.94 vs 18.06 ± 13.38 vs 4.41 ± 10.82%, p < 0.001, p = 0.006, respectively). There were no differences of PWV between CoA patients, BAV patients and healthy controls (6.07 ± 1.20 vs 5.95 ± 1.20 vs 5.67 ± 0.73 m/s, p = 0.099, p = 0.278, respectively). In CoA group, there was correlation of PWV with age (r = 0.55 p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.29, p = 0.025), fibrinogen (r = 0.31, p = 0.039), glucose (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), ascending aorta diameter (r = 0.29, p = 0.026) and age at operation (r = 0.27, p = 0.041). Among group of BAV, there was a correlation of PWV with age (r = 0.58, p < 0.001), central AP with total cholesterol (r = 0.38, p = 0.036) and fibrinogen (r = 0.41, p = 0.024).Conclusions: The increased arterial stiffness occurs in both groups: patients after aortic coarctation repair and patients with bicuspid aortic valve. Concomitance of coarctation of the aorta and bicuspid aortic valve has no influence on arterial stiffness augmentation.

Report of a Coarctation of Aorta Stenting in an Infant

Coarctation of aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart disease that can lead to heart failure during infancy and neonatal period. Several treatments have been proposed for this disease, including surgery and balloon angioplasty. The experiences of using stents in small infants or neonatal patients are very low. In this article, we report a 3 months old age infant who after balloon angioplasty, his CoA symptoms had return and stenting of CoA was performed for him.

Descending aortic translocation procedure for relief of bronchial compression in left aortic arch and right descending aorta

Compression of the left bronchus by a right-sided descending aorta arising from a left aortic arch constitutes an exceedingly rare form of vascular ring. This manuscript describes the surgical technique that involves translocation of the descending aorta directly to the proximal ascending aorta, thereby relieving the bronchial compression.

Corkscrewing of retinal arterioles leading to diagnosis of coarctation of aorta

Coarctation of aorta (CoA) usually leads to elevation of blood pressure above the site of obstruction and this elevated blood pressure probably gets transferred and is reflected in the retinal arterioles producing certain signs of hypertensive retinopathy. Fundus examination helps in differentiating hypertension due to CoA from other causes of juvenile hypertension, as corkscrewing of retinal arterioles is seen only in CoA but not in other conditions. A 16 year hypertensive male who was on antihypertensive treatment presented for routine checkup. On examination his visual acuity was 6/6 in both eyes. Funduscopy of both eyes revealed a normal optic disc with generalised narrowing of arterioles and broadened light reflex. The arterioles showed corkscrew tortuosity (U shaped arterioles). Based on the fundus findings, CoA was suspected and the patient was referred for cardiac evaluation. Echocardiogram revealed post ductal CoA. In juvenile hypertension, careful examination of the fundus can provide a clue to the systemic diagnosis and this case highlights the importance of ophthalmoscopic examination in diagnosing a potentially fatal systemic disease.

Endovascular repair of severe aortic coarctation, transcatheter aortic valve replacement for severe aortic stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention in an elderly patient with long term follow-up

To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any reports of total transcatheter approach including stenting of severe coarctation of the aorta (CoA), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for concomitant severe aortic valve stenosis, and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to treat significant coronary artery disease in a single patient. We report a 70-year-old female, who presented with uncontrolled hypertension and acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) and was found to have severe CoA, severe bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis, and significant proximal left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery disease. In a multidisciplinary heart team meeting, we decided to perform an endovascular repair of both cardiac and vascular pathologies using a two-stage approach due to the significant comorbidities; mainly uncontrolled hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and severe calcifications of the ascending aorta. The procedures were successfully performed and the patient was asymptomatic 30 months later at follow-up and was without any significant gradients across the coarctation or the aortic valve.

Transcatheter therapy of partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with dual drainage and coarctation of the aorta in a single patient

A 12-year-old boy was found to have aortic coarctation and a partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection. Historically, multiple cardiac pathologies, such as in the present case, required a surgical approach. We describe transcatheter treatment of the coarctation with a stent and occlusion of the partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with an Amplatzer vascular plug in a single patient without complications.

Coarctation of the aorta-stenting via Glidesheath Slender in a newborn with recoarctation early after a Norwood operation

In this article, we report on a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in whom recoarctation of the aorta was treated with a bare metal stent (Cook Formula 414 Stent) in the early postoperative period after a Norwood procedure. To reduce the risk for scarring and occluding the femoral artery the stent was implanted via 5F Glidesheath Slender sheath.

Extra-anatomical bypass in complex and recurrent aortic coarctation and hypoplastic arch

OBJECTIVES

Our goal was to report the selection schemes, technical variations and long-term outcome of extra-anatomical bypass to correct complex, recurrent aortic coarctation and hypoplastic aortic arch.

METHODS

Between 1989 and 2012, 53 patients (mean age 13.2 ± 4.3, median 11.6, range 9-23 years) with complex aortic coarctation (n = 33; long-segment hypoplastic aortic arch in 15), recurrent coarctation (n = 20; anastomosic pseudoaneurysm in 10), underwent correction using extra-anatomical bypass, either with (n = 18: femoral bypass = 13, left heart bypass = 5) or without (n = 35) extracorporeal circulation via a left lateral thoracotomy (n= 48) and combined median sternotomy and median laparotomy (n = 5). The decision to use extracorporeal circulation was based on the anatomical location of the coarctation, the length of the hypoplasia and a history of previous repair. Preoperatively, mean systolic blood pressure was 130 ± 30 mmHg at rest and 180 ± 40 mmHg during exercise, with a mean pressure gradient of 80 ± 11.6 (range 40-120) mmHg.

RESULTS

Various extra-anatomical bypass strategies included left subclavian artery to descending aorta (n = 38), ascending aorta to left subclavian artery (n = 3), ascending aorta to descending aorta (n = 4), aortic arch to descending aorta (n = 3) and ascending aorta to abdominal aorta (n = 5). Graft size (median 18, range 10-26, mm) was chosen according to the diameter of the vessel proximal and distal to the planned graft. No operative deaths, paraplegia or abdominal malperfusion occurred. The mean reduction in systolic blood pressure was 60 ± 25 mmHg without pressure gradients. During a mean follow-up of 18.3 ± 3.7 years, there were no reoperations, graft complications or pseudoaneurysm formation on anastomotic sites. Seven (11.6%) patients are on antihypertensive medications. No patient presented with claudication nor did anyone experience orthostatic problems from the steal phenomenon.

CONCLUSIONS

Extra-anatomical bypass is safe, an effective technique, and achieves satisfactory long-term results.

Aneurysmal hemorrhage in a pregnant patient with coarctation of aorta: An anesthetic challenge

A 25years old female patient with pregnancy of 16weeks (G₂ P₁), diagnosed to have distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm (DACA) with Hunt & Hess grade I, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and coexisting atretic type of aortic coarctation posted for aneurysmal clipping under general anesthesia is a challenge to anesthesiologists in perioperative period. Hypertensive surges in a pregnant patient may result in rupture of aneurysms. Mortality in the mothers with CoA has been reported to be in the range of 0 to 9%. Anesthetic management of a pregnancy with CoA and SAH has never been reported.

Interrupted aortic arch with isolated persistent left superior vena cava in patient with Turners syndrome

We present a case of 13-year-old female with Turner syndrome (TS), who presented with unexplained lower limbs swelling and ejection systolic murmur at the left second intercostal space. Suspicion of mild aortic coarctation was made by echocardiography. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed a complete interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) below the left subclavian artery with persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) and absent right SVC, defined as an isolated PLSVC. The patient underwent successful surgical correction after unsuccessful trial of transcatheter stent placement. We present this case of asymptomatic IAA to draw attention to the importance of CTA in diagnosing such rare anomalies and ruling out asymptomatic major cardiovascular abnormalities in patient with TS.

Pulmonary root translocation for borderline complex coarctation of aorta and multiple ventricular septal defects

We describe a case of complex left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, multiple muscular ventricular septal defects, aortic coarctation and a hypoplastic aortic arch, where staged biventricular repair was performed successfully using pulmonary root translocation.

Illustrated Imaging Essay on Congenital Heart Diseases: Multimodality Approach Part II: Acyanotic Congenital Heart Disease and Extracardiac Abnormalities

Acyanotic heart disease constitutes a significant majority of patient who may present with non-cardiac symptoms. Either they are detected incidentally or present with respiratory complaints. Equipped with knowledge of anatomy by echocardiography and radiographic methods described in previous part of this presentation, diagnosis may be confidently attempted. On plain radiography acyanotic congenital heart diseases have variable appearance depending upon severity of disease. Cardiac size, chamber enlargement and pulmonary vascular pattern are key elements. Typically left to right shunts with large volume flow are associated with pulmonary plethora. Plain radiography has an important role in detecting manifestation of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Severe stenosis of pulmonary valve is associated with pulmonary oligemia. Small intra-cardiac shunts and anomalies of coronary arteries generally present with normal cardiac size and pulmonary arterial pattern. Disease spectrum presented in this illustration demands thorough scrutiny of pulmonary, osseous and abdominal abnormalities. This section illustrates some commonly encountered spectrum of acyanotic cardiac disease.

A Constellation of Cardiac Anomalies: Beyond Shone's Complex

Shone's anomaly is a very rare congenital cardiac malformation characterized by four serial obstructive lesions of the left side of the heart (i) Supravalvular mitral membrane (ii) parachute mitral valve (iii) muscular or membranous subaortic stenosis and (iv) coarctation of aorta. We report a unique presentation of Shone's complex in a 14-year-old adolescent male. In addition to the four characteristic lesions the patient had bicuspid aortic valve, aneurysm of sinus of valsalva, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, persistent left superior vena cava opening into coronary sinus and severe pulmonary artery hypertension. This case report highlights the importance of a strong clinical suspicion of the coexistence of multiple congenital cardiac anomalies in Shone's complex and the significance of a careful comprehensive echocardiography.

Most Coarctations, Recoarctations, and Coarctation-Related Aneurysms Should Be Treated Endovascularly

For patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), surgical intervention results in an overall survival rate nearly twice that of medical management. Therefore, surgical correction of CoA has traditionally been warranted in the majority of patients, even though open repair entails its own complications. With the advent of endovascular technology, many interventionalists hoped that this approach would decrease the complications associated with open surgical repair of CoA. Nevertheless, there is still an ongoing debate about the merits of traditional open surgery versus endovascular therapy. In this review, we discuss the role of these two approaches for the management of CoA, recoarctation, and coarctation-related aneurysms.

Resistant Hypertension

Conservatively, ten million people in the USA alone may suffer from RH and may be similarly prevalent elsewhere. Given the strong linear correlation between hypertension and cardiovascular outcomes, better control is paramount. We favor a multi-pronged approach. It may not suffice to address this by pharmacologic means only. Careful attention to modifiable risk factors, particularly sodium intake, adhering to a proper diet (i.e. DASH), and avoiding agents, i.e. non-steroidals, that can elevate the blood pressure, is key. Frequent follow up to establish the right treatment regimen and home blood pressuring monitoring can have a strong impact on control. Finally, consideration of device therapy may be a more viable option in the future.

Dual Arterial Access for Stenting of Aortic Coarctation in Patients with Near-Total Descending Aortic Interruption

Endovascular stenting is a recognized treatment strategy for the treatment of coarctation of aorta (COA) in adults. The aortic coarctation is usually crossed retrogradely from the descending aorta via the femoral approach. We report three patients who had near-total descending aortic interruption and underwent successful stenting of severe COA using a combined radial/brachial and femoral approach due to difficulty in crossing the lesion retrogradely via a femoral approach. There were no procedural complications and no adverse events during 6 months of follow-up.

Repair of coarctation of aorta with preservation of blood supply to upper limb

In this report, we present a modified technique of extended resection and end-to-end anastomosis of aorta for repair of coarctation of aorta. The advantages of this technique are a larger tension free anastomosis without compromising the blood supply into the left subclavian artery.

Most Coarctations, Recoarctations, and Coarctation-Related Aneurysms Should Be Treated Endovascularly

For patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA), surgical intervention results in an overall survival rate nearly twice that of medical management. Therefore, surgical correction of CoA has traditionally been warranted in the majority of patients, even though open repair entails its own complications. With the advent of endovascular technology, many interventionalists hoped that this approach would decrease the complications associated with open surgical repair of CoA. Nevertheless, there is still an ongoing debate about the merits of traditional open surgery versus endovascular therapy. In this review, we discuss the role of these two approaches for the management of CoA, recoarctation, and coarctation-related aneurysms.

Giant coronary cameral fistula with coarctation of aorta in a neonate

A coronary cameral fistula (CCF) involves a sizable communication between a coronary artery and a cardiac chamber. We present a case of giant coronary cameral fistula associated with coarctation of aorta in a 13 days old neonate.

Surgical modification for preventing a gothic arch after aortic arch repair without the use of foreign material

OBJECTIVES

Systemic hypertension is the main late complication after arch reconstruction in patients with arch obstruction. Gothic arch geometry is suspected to be one of its possible causes. Accordingly, we evaluated here if a modified arch repair technique using an autologous pulmonary patch is effective in preventing gothic arch development.

METHODS

Fifty infants who underwent arch repair with either a modified (n = 17) or conventional (n = 33) technique between January 2006 and August 2012 by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. Arch geometry was compared using three categories (gothic, crenel or roman), classified by the height/width (H/W) ratio and the arch angle measured in computed tomography.

RESULTS

No gothic arch geometry was observed in the modified group, whereas it was observed in 9 cases in the conventional group (P = 0.005). Moreover, reintervention for arch restenosis was performed only in the conventional group (n = 4; P = 0.29). No associated complications were observed, although the selective cerebral perfusion time was longer in the modified group than in the conventional group (28.5 ± 6.2 vs 17.1 ± 9.9 min; P < 0.001). Otherwise, there were no significant differences in clinical variables between the groups. The mean follow-up duration was 55.3 ± 26.7 months. Significant systemic hypertension was not observed in our study cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

Our modified technique was proven to be not only highly effective in preventing gothic arch geometry, but also as equally safe in terms of early clinical outcomes as conventional arch reconstruction techniques.

Left ventricular response to pressure afterload in children: aortic stenosis and coarctation: a systematic review of the current evidence

Congenital aortic stenosis (CAS) and Coarctation of Aorta (CoA) represent two forms of pressure afterload that affect the left ventricle (LV), hence require regular echocardiographic monitoring. Subclinical dysfunction of the LV exists even in asymptomatic patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), implying low sensitivity of EF in predicting optimum time for intervention. In this article we review patterns of LV myocardial deformation before and after correction of CAS and CoA in infants, children and adolescents, showing their important role in monitoring the course of LV dysfunction. A systematic search using PubMed was performed and suitable studies are presented on a narrative form. Normal EF and/or fractional shortening (FS), with subclinical myocardial dysfunction are reported in all studies before intervention. The short-term results, after intervention, were related to the type of procedure, with no improvement or further deterioration related to surgery but immediate improvement after balloon intervention. Long term follow-up showed further improvement but still subnormal function. Thus correction of CAS and CoA before irreversible LV dysfunction is vital, and requires longitudinal studies in order to identify the most accurate parameter for function prognostication. Until then, conventional echocardiographic parameters together with myocardial velocities and deformation parameters should continue to provide follow-up reproducible measures of ventricular function.