Neonatal aortic coarctation: a spectrum of anatomic lesions repaired trough left thoracotomy in 22 years experience

Methods One hundred and thirty-four patients underwent CoA repair from January 1990 to December 2012 (mean FU 115.6±82.9 months). Mean age was 11.5±7.6 days (range 0-30 days). Mean weight was 3.0±0.7kg, 26.1% under 2.5kg of weight. 88 patients (65.7%) presented isolated CoA,36 (26.9%) associated VSD, 10 (7.5%) associated complex cardiac defects. All patients were treated through left thoracotomy, 79.9% with end to end extended anastomosis, 7.4% with prosthetic and 12.7% with subclavian patch. Concomitant pulmonary artery banding was performed in 28 patients (21.1%). During follow up all patients underwent thoracic aortic MR and cardiological evaluation. Cerebral MR angiography was performed to avoid the risk of the association between neonatal CoA repair and IAs development.