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Coarctation of the aorta
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Coarctation of the aorta
Alternative Names: Aortic coarctation Treatment: Surgery is usually advised. Occasionally, balloon angioplasty (using a technique similar to that used to open the coronary arteries, but performed on the aorta) may be an alternative to surgical repair. Text Continues Below With surgery, the narrowed segment of the aorta is removed, then repaired by anastomosis (placing the two free ends of the aorta back together) if the segment with the coarctation was short. If a longer segment must be removed, a Dacron graft (a synthetic material) is used to fill the gap. Expectations (prognosis): Coarctation of the aorta is curable with surgery, and rapid improvement of symptoms often occurs after the repair. There is an increased risk for death caused by cardiovascular problems among patients who have undergone aortic repair; however, without treatment, most people with this condition die before they reach the age of 40. Early surgical intervention (before 10 years old) is usually advised. Today, diagnosis of a coarctation and subsequent surgical repair typically occur during infancy. Complications: Aortic aneurysm Aortic dissection Aortic rupture Severe hypertension Endocarditis Intracerebral hemorrhage Stroke Heart failure Premature development of coronary artery disease (CAD) Paraplegia (rare complication of surgery to repair coarctation) Calling your health care provider: Page:  1 | 2 | Next >>