title: Immediate and intermediate results of stent therapy for aortic coarctation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the immediate and intermediate outcomes of stent therapy for coarctation or recoarctation of the aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral centres.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case review of all patients who have undergone stent implantation for coarctation of aorta in the Netherlands and Belgium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stents were implanted in 33 patients (mean age 21±16 years) and successful outcome occurred acutely in 32 of these 33 patients. Peak systolic blood pressure decreased from 149±37 to 124±24 mmHg. The pressure gradient decreased from 37±16 to 7±7 mmHg. The diameter of the coarctation segment increased from 7.3±3.8 to 13.3±3.9 mm. Three patients had major complications and three had minor complications. During a mean follow-up of 21±17 months recoarctation was found in ten patients, seven of whom have undergone further procedures. There were no deaths at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stent implantation is a good alternative to balloon dilation in selected patients with coarctation of the aorta. However, follow-up evaluation reveals a varying incidence of recoarctation and the long-term outcomes need to be determined.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Honing-Hemmers
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: van Putten
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gewillig
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mast
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talsma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tanke
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Wolff
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sreeram
keywords: aortic coarctation; stent implantation