Endovascular covered stent treatment for descending aorta pseudoaneurysm following coarctation of the aorta repair in an infant

Abstract

The development of a pseudoaneurysm is a rare complication following repair of a coarctation of the aorta. Surgical management of pseudoaneurysms is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We describe the successful endovascular deployment of a covered stent in a sick infant with a descending aorta pseudoaneurysm, following the repair of an aortic coarctation. We highlight the challenges we encountered. Endovascular repair is a safe palliative alternative to re-do open surgery in unstable infants with large pseudoaneurysms following aortic coarctation repair. The role of endovascular stents as the final definitive therapy will remain limited by the deployable, small-size stents in small, growing children.