Haki Jashari¹, Katarina Lannering², Mats Mellander², Pranvera Ibrahimi¹, Annika Rydberg³, Michael Y. Henein¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 218-225, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12430

Abstract Background and aims: Patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) have increased left ventricular (LV) afterload that has been shown to impact the LV and ascending aortic function. We aimed to examine the effect of coarctation on LV function and aorto-septal angle (AoSA) before and after surgical repair.
Methods: We retrospectively studied 21 patients with surgically repaired CoA at a median age of 9 (2-53) days at three time points: (1) just before intervention, (2) at short-term follow-up, and (3) at medium-term follow-up after intervention. AoSA was measured from the parasternal long axis view, at three time points during the… More >

Marco Astengo^1,2*, Caroline Berntsson^3*, Åse A. Johnsson^3,4, Peter Eriksson^1,2, Mikael Dellborg^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.2, pp. 174-180, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12424

Abstract Objective: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a common condition. Adult patients with newly diagnosed CoA and patients with recurring or residual CoA require evaluation of the severity of aortic obstruction. Cardiac catheterization is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of hemodynamically significant CoA. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines for the management of grown-up congenital heart disease (GUCH) include noninvasive criteria for identifying significant CoA. Our aim was to investigate the ability of the Class I and Class IIa ESC recommendations to identify significant CoA at cardiac catheterization.
Design: Sixty-six adult patients with native or recurrent CoA… More >

Adam B. Christopher¹, Abraham Apfel², Tao Sun², Jackie Kreutzer¹, David S. Ezon³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 713-720, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12637

Abstract Objective: The most accurate noninvasive parameter to predict whether a patient with aortic coarctation will meet interventional criteria at catheterization remains elusive. We aim to determine the best independent echocardiographic predictors of a coarctation peak‐to‐peak pressure gradient ≥20 mm Hg at catheterization, the ac‐ cepted threshold for intervention.
Design: Retrospective query of our catheterization database from 1/2007 to 7/2016 for the diagnostic code of aortic coarctation was performed. Multiple echocardio‐ graphic measurements and blood pressure gradients prior to cardiac catheterization were collected. Univariate correlation of variables with the continuous catheteriza‐ tion peak were calculated using Spearman’s rho. Univariate association with… More >

Gareth J. Morgan¹, Matteo Ciuffreda², Isabella Spadoni³, Joseph DeGiovanni⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 458-462, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12596

Abstract Aim: To assess the acute results of the first human use of the Optimus covered stent in complex coarctation of the aorta.
Methods and Results: We successfully implanted the Optimus covered stent in eight cases in patients whose preprocedural anatomy looked challenging for currently available covered stents. Six of the patients had native coarctation with one recoarctation following surgical repair. There were no significant complications with reduction in the mean invasive gradient from 22 to 1 mm Hg. The length of stents used ranged from 33 to 57 mm with a median shortening after expansion of 13%. Postprocedural follow-up with… More >

Benjamin S. Frank¹, Tracy T. Urban², Karlise Lewis², Suhong Tong³, Courtney Cassidy⁴, Max B. Mitchell⁵, Christopher S. Nichols⁶, Jesse A. Davidson¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 446-453, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12744

Abstract Objective: Patients undergoing surgical repair of aortic coarctation have a 50% risk of pathologic left ventricular remodeling (increased left ventricular mass or relative wall thickness). Endothelin 1, ST2, galectin 3, norepinephrine and B‐natriuretic pep‐ tide are biomarkers that have been associated with pathologic LV change in adult populations but their predictive value following pediatric coarctation repair are not known.
Hypothesis: Biomarker levels at coarctation repair will predict persistent left ven‐ tricular remodeling at 1‐year follow up.
Design: Prospective, cohort study of 27 patients’ age 2 days‐12 years with coarcta‐ tion of the aorta undergoing surgical repair. Echocardiograms were performed pre‐… More >

Nicola Maschietto¹, Luca Semplicini², Giulio Ceolotto², Arianna Cattelan², Helen Poser³, Ilaria Iacopetti³, Gabriele Gerardi³, Giulia Maria De Benedictis³, Tommaso Pilla³, Daniele Bernardini³, Luca Aresu⁴, Stefania Rizzo⁵, Cristina Basso⁵, Andrea Semplicini², Ornella Milanesi¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 74-83, 2017

Abstract Background: Stent implantation is the treatment of choice for adolescents and adults with aortic coarctation (CoAo). Despite excellent short-term results, 20%–40% of the patients develop arterial hypertension later in life, which was attributed to inappropriate response of the aortic baroreceptors to increased stiffness of the ascending aorta (ASAO), either congenital or induced by CoAo repair. In particular, it has been hypothesized that stent itself may cause or sustain hypertension. Therefore, we aimed to study the hemodynamic and structural impact following stent implantation in the normal aorta of a growing animal.
Methods: Eight female sheep completed the study and a stent… More >