Aims: Limited data exists on midterm results concerning paediatric interventions on stenotic or occluded systemic veins following indwelling lines, cardiac surgery, or catheterisations. The purpose of this study was to report our acute and intermediate results concerning patients with (Group A) and without (Group B) congenital heart diseases (CHD) over a 10-year period.
Methods and results: From January 2000 to December 2010, 32 patients (23 in Group A and nine in Group B, respectively) underwent 39 interventional catheterisations aimed to dilate or recanalise occluded iliofemoral veins, inferior or superior venae cavae. Initial and follow-up catheterisation data were reviewed retrospectively. Midterm results were evaluated by means of echography, angiography, and CT scan in all 15 and 17 patients, respectively. Median age and weight of all patients at catheterisation were five years (range 0.1-18) and 15 kg (range 2-60), respectively. Fifty-two stents were implanted in 29 patients (32 vessels). In 25 patients 28 vessels were occluded and required recanalisation. There were no major complications. In all but three patients it was possible to treat the lesion. There were two procedural complications (5.1%): one acute stent occlusion and one local dissection. At a median follow-up of 2.5 years (range 1-10) we observed six complications of stenting (11.5%): two fractures, two occlusions and two restenoses.
Conclusions: Interventional catheterisation of stenotic or occluded systemic veins grants good immediate results at a low rate of complication. Stent dilatation or recanalisation may open the vessel for use during future procedures. However, long-term results are yet to be established.