title: Covered-stent implantation to treat aortic coarctation.
abstract: Aortic coarctation comprises approximately 7% of all known congenital heart defects. Surgery and balloon angioplasty have been performed for many years but are associated with a significant incidence of recoarctation and aneurysm formation. Although bare-stent implantation decreases the incidence of recoarctation, the risk of aortic dissection or aneurysm formation is not eliminated. Described initially to treat patients with coexistent aneurysm of the aortic wall, we currently believe that covered-stent implantation for aortic coarctation should play a more important role. Our increasing experience from expanding their indication to deal with complications from previous interventions, associated defects or particular anatomical situations has led us to conclude that most of cases of aortic coarctation in adolescents and adults should be treated by the implantation of covered stents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology and GUCH Unit, Policlinico San Donato IRCCS, Via Morandi, 30, 20097 San Donato Milanese, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Butera
authors.forename: João Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Manica
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chessa
authors.forename: Luciane
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Negura
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micheletti
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcidiacono
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carminati
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation; D015607:Stents