Extraanatomic bypass technique for the treatment of midaortic syndrome in children

This report aims to introduce the extraanatomic bypass technique to treat the midaortic syndrome and to document its long-term effectiveness and durability.

Fourteen patients (mean age, 6.7 ± 3.76 years; range 8 months to 11 years) received diagnoses of midaortic syndrome, characterized by severe narrowing of the abdominal aorta with involvement of the renal and visceral branches. Angiography showed variable lengths of high-grade midaortic stenosis, with 7 children having visceral artery involvement and 9 having renal artery involvement. All children were hypertensive (mean blood pressure, 165 ± 15.7 mm Hg). Three had had previous nephrectomies. Six patients had had previous percutaneous transluminal renal artery angioplasties. The midaortic obstruction was relieved by descending abdominal aorta bypass (left thoracoabdominal approach) and by an ascending abdominal aorta bypass (median sternotomy and transabdominal approach) in 12 patients. No visceral artery revascularization was done.

There was a considerable blood pressure reduction in all patients and relief of intermittent claudication in 6 affected patients. One patient had a bilateral renal artery bypass 2 weeks postoperatively because of recurrence of renal hypertension. At a mean follow-up time of 5.8 ± 1.36 years (range, 9 months to 15 years), there was no further reoperation nor mortality. Twelve patients had complete relief of hypertension, and 2 had mild hypertension. All patients have normal renal function and no signs or symptoms of visceral malperfusion. Growth and development have proceeded normally. Follow-up magnetic resonance tomography showed patent grafts without any strictures.

Extraanatomic bypass provides very effective and long-term relief of hypertension and any malperfusion in midaortic syndrome.