[Coarctation of the abdominal aorta. Experiences with transluminal angioplasty]

Balloon dilatation was performed transfemorally in three patients suffering from coarctation of the abdominal aorta. In two cases the pressure gradient could be reduced markedly from 85 to 55 and from 72 to 32 mm Hg, respectively. At follow-up angiography 3 months later the gradient was reduced further to 12 and 5 mm Hg, respectively. One women patient who had previously been handicapped by claudication intermittens, was free from complaints after balloon dilatation, whereas the other women patient with suprarenal stenosis of the aorta and renal hypertension was normotensive subsequent to balloon dilatation. In the third (male) patient who had already been operated on earlier because of stenosis of the aortic isthmus, dilatation was unsuccessful even if a very high balloon pressure was applied. These experiences support the view--in agreement with other authors--that balloon dilatation in coarctation of the abdominal aorta is a method of low invasiveness that should be attempted before surgery is performed.