Balloon angioplasty performed with coronary balloons in newborns with severe coarctation of aorta: a single center experience

Objective: Critical coarctation of the aorta (CoA) may cause severe left ventricular dysfunction and systemic hypoperfusion in the neonatalperiod. Surgical treatment in the neonatal period is superior to balloon angioplasty due to lower recoarctation and reintervention rates.However, surgical mortality increases in hemodynamically compromised patients. This has generated interest in emergency palliativeballoon angioplasty as a bridge to surgery. The present study reports outcomes of emergency palliative balloon angioplasty performedwith coronary balloons due to resource limitations, including the absence of neonatal-specific balloons and inconsistent access topediatric cardiac centers.Method: Records of all newborns diagnosed with critical CoA [w11.1][OÇ1.2]and undergoing coronary balloon angioplasty wereretrospectively reviewed.Results: The study included 14 critical neonates who underwent balloon angioplasty with coronary balloons. After the procedure, 13of 14 patients with successful balloon use had left ventricular functions to return normalize within the first 24 hours. The diameter ofthe narrowest site increased from 1.71 to 4.34 mm (p