Treatment of symptomatic coral reef aorta with an uncovered stent graft.
Coral reef aorta is a rare condition characterised by extreme calcific growths affecting the juxta and suprarenal aorta. It can cause symptoms due to visceral ischaemia, lower limb hypoperfusion, and distal embolisation. We present a case of a 61-year-old man with unresponsive hypertension, who was found to have an occluded right renal artery, and an extensive coral reef aorta with a marked pressure gradient across the lesion. Renal hypoperfusion secondary to aortic coral reef aorta was thought to be the cause for his hypertension. Endovascular placement of a balloon expandable uncovered stent resolved his hypertension within one month, with no adverse effects noted at subsequent follow-up. Endovascular treatment of coral reef aorta is technically possible and avoids a major vascular procedure.
Department of Vascular Surgery, Regional Vascular Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK davebosanquet@hotmail.com.
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Bosanquet
Department of Vascular Radiology, Regional Vascular Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
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Wood
Department of Vascular Surgery, Regional Vascular Unit, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
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Williams
D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D062186:Arterial Pressure; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Coral reef aorta; angioplasty; aortic atherosclerosis; hypertension; renal artery stenosis