Background .– The EDWARDS VALEO LIFESTENT ^® is a stainless steel, premounted, open cell stent. Easy dilation to large diameters and low profile are advantages in growing children. Radial force is poor.

Methods and results .– Between 4-2011 and 12-2012, 41 VALEO ^® stents were placed during 33 procedures, including 30 transcatheter (group 1) and three peroperative procedures (group 2). Data were retrospectively analyzed. Median age at implantation was 2.6 years (5 days–23 years), weight 10 kg (2–53). Indications were: pulmonary artery stenosis (23), pulmonary vein stenosis (1), sub-hepatic vein thrombosis (1), ductus arteriosus stenting (hybrid approach) for hypoplastic left heart (6) and for interrupted aortic arch (2).

In group 1, access was femoral in all except five (4 jugular, 1 transhepatic). Stent placement was achieved in all but one. Predilation was performed in 14, postdilation in five. In group 2, stents were placed during bypass, secured with a single stitch and flared at the proximal end. Acute complications were hemoptysis (3), reperfusion edema (1), low cardiac output (2), stent dislodgement (2) and fractures (2). Median follow-up ( n = 28) reached 8.8 months (1.9–34). Early recatheterization was performed in 19 patients (median 5 months). The stent was redilated in seven patients: three (group 2) to achieve better wall apposition, one due to intimal proliferation, two for vessel growth. One postoperative dilation (group 2) was complicated by acute fracture, requiring additional postdilation. One ductal stent was completely occluded in a child with borderline hypoplastic left heart that acquired biventricular circulation. The other 11 were fully patent. Surgery performed in six patients (interval 1.9 to 10 months), showed completely endothelialized and patent stents. No ‘late’ obstructive stent fractures were seen on chest X-Ray, CT scan or fluoroscopy performed in 90% of the patients during follow-up. Predilation was the only significant risk factor for acute complication in univariate analysis.

Conclusion .– The VALEO ^® stent is a useful stent in growing children. Low radial force is counter balanced by high flexibility, allowing implantation in distal and tortuous lesions. Early fractures may occur. Longer-term follow-up is needed.