Abstract

VANEGAS, Edgardo; MARIN, María M  and  SANTACRUZ, David. Controversies in current management of the aortic coarctation. Rev. Colomb. Cardiol. [online]. 2013, vol.20, n.5, pp.300-308. ISSN 0120-5633.

Coarctation of the aorta was once viewed as a simple discrete narrowing of the aortic isthmus that could be 'cured' by surgical intervention. It is now clear that this condition represents a wider vasculopathy that could affect the aortic arch in a highly variable manner. Surgery has proven to be an effective treatment for the management of native aortic coarctation, and remains the treatment of choice in neonates. Balloon angioplasty is the treatment of choice in children with re-coarctation, and currently available immediate results in native coarctation are similar with regards to gradient reduction as compared with surgery. Stent implantation has shown excellent short-term results in both children beyond infancy and in adults with native coarctation. In patients with recurrent coarctation who are at high surgical risk, balloon angioplasty and stent repair offer a less invasive and equally effective method. Stent repair is preferred over balloon angioplasty in adults and outgrown children with a recurrent coarctation, as the risk for re-coarctation and aneurysm formation seems to be lower. Data with regard to long-term outcome after percutaneous treatment strategies are scarce. This review outlines the controversies in the treatment of this disease.

Keywords : aorta; coartation; treatment; angioplasty; surgery.

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