title: The VALEO vascular stent for cardiovascular lesions in children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The VALEO vascular stent is a stainless steel, pre-mounted, open-cell stent. Redilation to large diameters and low profile are advantages in growing children. Clinical experience is scarce. This study aimed to analyse our experience with the use of the VALEO vascular stent in children.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between June 2010 and December 2012, 41 VALEO stents were inserted during 30 transcatheter (group 1) and three perioperative procedures (group 2). Data were retrospectively analysed. Median age at implantation was 3.8 years (four days - 23 years), and median weight was 13.3 kg (2.2-53 kg). Indications were: pulmonary artery (n=23), pulmonary vein (n=1) or subhepatic vein (n=1) stenosis, and ductus arteriosus stenting (n=8). Stent placement was achieved in all but one. Acute complications (n=11) included stent dislodgement in two patients and fracture in three patients, with vessel predilatation as a risk factor. Median "stent" follow-up reached 7.83 months (0.4-34.3 months) and included 26 recatheterisations (23 patients, median interval 6.2 months, range 0.2-33 months). Ten stents were redilated. Surgery in six patients (interval 1.9 to 10 months) showed patent endothelialised stents. No "late" type II or III stent fractures were seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VALEO stent is useful in children. Low radial force is counterbalanced by high flexibility, allowing implantation in distal and tortuous lesions. Early fractures occur. Longer-term follow-up is needed.
authors: Paediatric Cardiology, Hôpital de la Timone Enfants, AP-HM, Marseille, France.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Ovaert
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Luciano
authors: Jean
authors: J
authors: Gaudart
authors: Ophélie
authors: O
authors: Boulogne
authors: Anass
authors: A
authors: Assaidi
authors: Issam
authors: I
authors: Kammache
authors: Alain
authors: A
authors: Fraisse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D004373:Ductus Arteriosus / Q000601:surgery*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013193:Stainless Steel