Management of percutaneous treatment of aorta coarctation diagnosed during pregnancy

J Med Life. 2022 Feb;15(2):208-213. doi: 10.25122/jml-2021-0363.

Abstract

Management of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) during pregnancy is complicated by increased procedural risks to the pregnant woman and her fetus. The aim of this research was to analyze 10-years of experience of CoA treatment diagnosed during pregnancy. During 2010-2020 we performed percutaneous stents implantations (SI) in 4 women during 15-23 weeks of pregnancy and in 6 women 48 hours - 5 years after delivery. In all presented cases, successful CoA repair was achieved. There was a significant decrease of peak-to-peak invasive systolic pressure gradient across the CoA (60.0±31.2 and 11.8±7.3 mmHg, p=0.001) and mean noninvasive systolic arterial pressure (163.0±46.2 and 120.5±9.2 mmHg, p=0.01) after SI. All percutaneously treated women during pregnancy (n=4) delivered healthy full-term babies. At follow-up (from 2 months to 10 years), all 10 women are alive without significant Doppler gradient across CoA with no signs of aortic aneurysm formation. To the best of our knowledge, we presented the largest published cohort of CoA percutaneous treatment during pregnancy. We categorized our experience in managing aortic coarctation diagnosed during pregnancy in one algorithm. Our experience demonstrates that excellent maternal and neonatal pregnancy outcomes can be obtained in women after CoA percutaneous repair, diagnosed during pregnancy. An aortic stent implantation is effective and safe for both mother and fetus.

Keywords: BP – blood pressure; CHD – congenital heart diseases; CP – Cheatham platinum; CT – computer tomography; CoA – coarctation of the aorta; ECHO – echocardiography; ECS – European Cardiology Society; HTN – hypertension; MRI – magnetic resonance imaging; Mid-aortic S. – mid-aortic syndrome; PDA – patent ductus arteriosus; PG – pressure gradient; ReCoA – aortic coarctation after surgical repair; SBP – systolic blood pressure; SH – systemic hypertension; SI – stent implantation; TTE – transthoracic echocardiography; WHO – World Health Organization; coarctation of the aorta; congenital heart diseases; fetus; pregnancy; stent implantation.

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Coarctation* / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Coarctation* / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Pregnancy
  • Stents
  • Systole
  • Treatment Outcome