Stents have contributed to the development of the interventional catheterization for congenital heart diseases (CHD). The aim of this study was to describe indications, results and adverse events in current practice.

Methods

The participation to this study was proposed to all catheterization laboratories specialized in CHD in France (M3C network). All cases with stents implantation in 2013 in pediatric and adult CHD were retrospectively included. Adverse events were assessed using the Bergersen classification.

Results

174 stents were implanted during 132 procedures in 127 patients by 6 main operators in 9 centers. Patients were aged 15.7 ± 15.1 years old (min 5 day-old – max 70 years old). Sixteen types of procedures were identified. Main indications were transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (29 patients, 23.0%), pulmonary artery branches angioplasty (34 patients, 27.0%), aortic (re)coarctation stenting (37 patients, 29.4%) and ductus arteriosus stenting (11 patients, 8.7%). 18 patients (14.3%) were under one y.o and 35 (27.8%) were over 18 y.o. Main pathologies were tetralogy of Fallot and variants (ACC-CHD 8.3, n = 45, 35.7%), and aortic coarctation (ACC-CHD 9.2, n = 36, 28.6%). More than 1 stent was implanted in 32 procedures (24.4%, max. 5 stents). Main stents implanted were the CP stent (33.0%), EV3 LD max (22.0%), Valeo (16.2%) and valved stents (15.0%). 98.5% procedures were considered as successful. Serious adverse events were observed in 12.9%. After multivariate adjustment, only procedure type was related to the risk of total adverse events (OR: 3.0, 95%CI 1.1–7.9) but not to stent related adverse events. Age, weight, center, operator, type of stents, stent diameter, genetic disorder and type of CHD were not significantly related to the risk of adverse events.

Conclusion

Stents are used in various CHD catheterization procedures, from infancy to adult age. Adverse events rate is significant and seems related to the type of procedure.