Córdoba Hospital Performs First Bioabsorbable Stent in Infant

A multidisciplinary team at the Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad in Córdoba successfully implanted Argentina's first fully bioabsorbable stent to treat a severe aortic coarctation in a 49‑day‑old, 2.2 kg premature infant from Chimbas, San Juan. The baby was first stabilized at the Hospital Materno Neonatal of Córdoba before being transferred for the hybrid procedure, which combined surgical opening of the carotid artery with interventional hemodynamics to place an IBS Angel 4.0 mm × 15 mm stent directly in the aorta.

The bioabsorbable device is designed to degrade safely within 12 months, eliminating the need for future surgeries to remove a metal prosthesis and allowing the artery to grow naturally. Alejandro Peirone, head of the hospital's cardiology department, highlighted the achievement as a milestone for pediatric cardiovascular care in Argentina and emphasized that public‑health support from the Ministry of Health ensures equal access to high‑complexity procedures regardless of patients' insurance status.