Bioabsorbable metal stents for percutaneous treatment of critical recoarctation of the aorta in a newborn.

In neonates and infants with critical aortic coarctation, balloon angioplasty is considered for rescue therapy of heart failure. The use of conventional stents is limited because of further vessel growth, the need of redilation, and later surgical removal. However, a novel bioabsorbable magnesium stent (AMS) might overcome such restrictions of vessel stenting in newborns. Presented is the first use of an AMS for acute treatment of a newborn with severely impaired heart function due to a long segment recoarctation after a complex surgical repair. We hypothesize that bioabsorbable stents will dramatically change the treatment of coarctation and recoarctation in newborns. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.