Long-term, randomized comparison of balloon angioplasty and surgery for native coarctation of the aorta in childhood

• Published in: Circulation (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2005-06, Vol.111 (25), p.3453-3456
• Main Authors: COWLEY, Collin G, ORSMOND, Garth S, FEOLA, Peter, MCQUILLAN, Lon, SHADDY, Robert E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aneurysm - etiology; Angioplasty, Balloon - adverse effects; Aorta, Thoracic - pathology; Aortic Coarctation - complications; Aortic Coarctation - surgery; Aortic Coarctation - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure; Cardiac Surgical Procedures - adverse effects; Cardiology. Vascular system; Child; Child, Preschool; Coronary Restenosis - etiology; Diseases of the cardiovascular system; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Femoral Artery - injuries; Humans; Incidence; Longitudinal Studies; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medical sciences; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Vascular surgery: aorta, extremities, vena cava. Surgery of the lymphatic vessels
• ISSN: 0009-7322; 1524-4539
• DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.510198

The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of children randomized to surgery or balloon angioplasty (BA) for native coarctation (CoA). A prior randomized, short-term comparison of BA and surgery for native CoA in 36 children demonstrated equivalent relief of obstruction. The risk of aneurysm formation and possibly restenosis was higher among patients treated with BA. Blood pressure, residual aortic obstruction, and exercise performance were evaluated. Need for repeat intervention was reviewed. Aortic arch anatomy was assessed with magnetic resonance angiography. For subjects who were not available to return for evaluation, the most recent clinical record was utilized. Among the 36 subjects initially randomized, 21 returned for evaluation (11 BA, 10 surgery). The average time since initial intervention to evaluation for all subjects was 10.6+/-4.7 years for BA subjects and 11.3+/-3.7 years for surgical subjects. Resting blood pressure, CoA gradient, exercise performance, MRI analysis of the aortic arch, and need for repeat interventions were not different for the 2 treatment strategies. There was a higher incidence of aneurysm formation (35% versus 0%) and a greater difference in blood pressure between the right and left legs with exercise among BA subjects. Some aneurysms developed late, first being detected more than 5 years after the initial intervention. Only 50% of BA subjects remained free of both aneurysm formation and repeat intervention compared with 87.5% of surgical subjects (P=0.03). BA for the treatment of childhood CoA is associated with a higher incidence of aneurysm formation and iliofemoral artery injury than surgery. These differences should be considered when undertaking treatment for native CoA during childhood.