Successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for treatment of renovascular hypertension in a 15-month-old child

Abstract

In young children with renal artery stenosis the applicability of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is limited by the small vessel size. We report our experience in a 15-month-old girl with severe hypertension, who underwent successful balloon dilatation of a tight renal artery stenosis caused by fibromuscular dysplasia. The procedure was performed using the guided co-axial balloon catheter technique with a 6 F right coronary Judkins catheter, a 0.014" guidewire and a 2 mm coronary artery balloon dilatation catheter. Antihypertensive medication was discontinued 6 weeks after the procedure. During a follow up period of 11 months, Doppler sonography revealed no evidence of recurrent renal artery stenosis.

Conclusion: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of renal artery stenosis can be performed safely in young children using equipment originally designed for treatment of coronary artery stenosis in adults.