title: Balloon angioplasty for native coarctation of the aorta in neonates and infants with congestive heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balloon angioplasty (BA) is an alternative to surgical repair for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in children. However, its role in the treatment of native CoA in neonates and infants remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to report the midterm outcomes of BA for native CoA in neonates and infants with congestive heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2000 and March 2007, 18 neonates and infants with native CoA and CHF who underwent BA were enrolled. Patients without recoarctation were designated as group A, while those with recoarctation or CHF were designated as group B. The clinical presentations, laboratory data, and outcomes were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 10 patients in group A and eight in group B. The mean age was 2.8 +/- 3.1 months (range, 0.7-11 months). Mean body weight was 4.0 +/- 1.9 kg (range, 2.1-8.0kg). CHF improved markedly in all patients immediately after BA, with a reduction in systolic pressure gradient from 36.4 +/- 12.0 to 5.6 +/- 6.0 mmHg (p < 0.001). The recoarctation rate was 44% (8/18). The risk factors for restenosis were post-BA systolic pressure gradient >10 mmHg (p = 0.007) and CoA diameter <3 mm (p = 0.013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes of BA for native CoA in neonates and infants with CHF remain poor. The incidence of recoarctation is high in neonates and patients whose post-BA systolic pressure gradient is >10 mmHg or whose CoA diameter is <3 mm.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. cdliang@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Chi-Di
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Wen-Jen
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Hung-Tao
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Mao-Sheng
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chien-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ying-Jui
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shao-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: I-Chun
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Sheung Fat
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D001027:Aortography; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed