Use of the AndraStent XL and XXL for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta in children and adults: immediate and midterm results.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to present our experience with a new type of extra-large stent, namely the AndraStent XL/XXL.

METHODS AND RESULTS: AndraStents were implanted in 46 patients, 38 with native coarctation of the aorta (CoA) and eight with recurrent coarctation of the aorta following previous surgery (ReCoA). All patients had arterial hypertension in the upper limbs, absent or weak femoral pulses, and continuous flow in the abdominal aorta on Doppler examination. The median age of patients was 25 years (range from nine to 65). The stents (cobalt-chromium with semi-open cell design) were manually mounted on balloon catheters and delivered through 10 to 14 Fr Mullins sheaths using a conventional femoral approach. All procedures were successful (no stent migration, proper expansion, no aorta dissection/rupture, major bleeding or major vessel injury). The systolic gradient across the aorta decreased from 40.6 mmHg before the procedure to 11.6 mmHg after the procedure (p<0.001). The mean fluoroscopy time was 5.7 minutes. Imaging examinations were scheduled and performed between six and 12 months after the initial procedure in 40 patients (angiography or angio CT or both). Procedural outcome remained favourable during a mean 2.4 years of follow-up. Neither stent fracture nor dislocation was observed in any patient at follow-up. In two patients, small aneurysm formation was observed six and eight months after the procedure -they were treated successfully with subsequent covered stent implantation. Re-dilatation of the implanted stent was performed between four and 26 months in 14 patients.

CONCLUSIONS: Implantation of new large cobalt-chromium stents is a good therapeutic option for the treatment of native and recurrent CoA.