Balloon expandable covered stents as primary therapy for hemodynamically stable traumatic aortic injuries in children

Gurumurthy Hiremath1, Gareth Morgan2, Damien Kenny3

  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Insights

Balloon expandable covered stents offer a safe and effective treatment for traumatic aortic injuries in children. This method is a viable alternative to surgery, especially when standard grafts are unsuitable for pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular surgery
  • Pediatric trauma care
  • Endovascular interventions

Background:

  • Traumatic aortic injuries (TAI) in children are rare but serious conditions.
  • Endovascular grafts are often preferred for TAI repair but have limitations in pediatric patients due to size and delivery system constraints.
  • Limited literature exists on the use of balloon-expandable covered stents for pediatric TAI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of using balloon-expandable covered stents for treating traumatic aortic injuries in pediatric patients.
  • To compare this endovascular approach with traditional surgical repair and standard endovascular grafts in the pediatric population.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter, retrospective chart review was conducted.
  • Pediatric patients with TAI resulting from blunt chest trauma were included.
  • Procedural details, follow-up data, and reintervention rates were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Six balloon-expandable covered stents were successfully implanted in five pediatric patients (median age 12 years).
  • All procedures achieved technical success without immediate or delayed complications.
  • Median follow-up was 24 months, with no reported adverse events.

Conclusions:

  • Balloon-expandable covered stents represent a feasible and safe alternative for pediatric TAI treatment.
  • This technique is advantageous over standard endovascular grafts in children due to device size and delivery system compatibility.
  • It offers a viable option when open surgical repair is not preferred or feasible.
Abstract