Abstract
BACKGROUND: Systemic hypertension secondary to total occlusion of the aortic arch is a rare etiology in children. CASE SUMMARY: This case report describes the successful management of a 12-year-old girl with an atretic aortic arch by percutaneous recanalization guided by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and angiography. The orientation of the atretic segment seen by CMR suggested a percutaneous intervention would be feasible. A coronary guidewire was used to traverse the atretic arch, and a balloon-expandable covered stent was deployed to restore luminal continuity. DISCUSSION: Atretic aortic arch recanalization is a high-risk surgical procedure owing to extensive collateral circulation. CMR plays a key role in preprocedural planning, detailing the vascular anatomy as well as collateral circulation. TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: This review illustrates the important role of CMR in planning percutaneous interventions as a feasible alternative to high-risk surgical repair in complex anatomies.