Balloon-expandable stenting in pediatric cardiology.
Intravascular stent placement in Pediatric Cardiology has provided one of the most interesting and effective means of catheter treatment of congenital lesions. In the 5 years since it has been performed, balloon-expandable stent placement has provided relief of many previously untreatable vascular stenoses and has resulted in improvement of blood flow, reduction of right ventricular pressure and, in many cases, dramatic improvement of symptoms. In this article, the background of balloon-expandable stent placement is discussed, and specific observations are offered regarding the technique of implantation. The generally excellent results are presented and a number of novel problems and pitfalls are outlined. Finally, a brief summary of the wide ranging applicability of stent implantation is discussed, along with some of the important and imaginative new directions for the therapy.
O'laughlin
M P
MP
Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA.
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002932:Cineangiography; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents