Percutaneous treatment of abdominal coarctation in children using a covered stent.

Coarctation of the abdominal aorta is extremely rare. It generally involves a long segment of the descending aorta and causes uncontrolled and unexplainable hypertension in children. The therapeutic choice is very challenging because acute and chronic complications are reported for both the surgical and the percutaneous approaches. The two reported cases of abdominal coarctation were treated primarily and successfully through the use of covered stents. Three covered stents were implanted in two children. No complication occurred with either procedure. At this writing, an 18-month follow-up assessment has found the patients in good health with no restenosis at the coarctation site. Covered stent implantation in children with abdominal coarctation is a feasible, safe, and effective procedure. It provides adequate relief of symptoms and reduces the risk of aneurysm formation. To avoid covering important side branches with polytetrafluoroethylene, this type of procedure must be preceded by precise study of the aorta and its branches.