Hybrid stenting of aortic coarctation in very low birth weight premature infant.

A very low birth weight infant with severe aortic coarctation developed progressive left ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary overflow with hemorrhage, while receiving prostaglandins. To avoid morbidity from conventional surgery or percutaneous intervention, a two-step strategy was performed at a weight of 970 g. First vascular access was obtained through sternotomy: a 3/8 mm coronary stent was deployed through a 4 French sheath in the ascending aorta; the arterial duct was clipped. At the age of 5 months, the stent was removed and the aortic arch reconstructed with an end-to-end anastomosis through lateral thoracotomy. This strategy was not associated with morbidity typical for premature infants with congenital heart disease.