Follow-up
Patients were followed up by routine echocardiography. Computed
tomography examinations were performed when necessary. Cardiac
catheterization was performed in patients with >20 mmHg
echocardiographic gradients (with diastolic extension) and patients with
gradient >20 mmHg between upper and lower extremity
arterial pressures. During cardiac catheterization, >10
mmHg gradient for single ventricle patients and >20 mmHg
gradient for double ventricle patients were considered as indications
for reintervention. However, the decision to conduct a reintervention
was made by the patient’s treating physicians based on the overall
clinical picture. Patients with a significant gradient underwent
reintervention by catheter balloon angioplasty and surgical intervention
was performed if this was not sufficient or not suitable.