Coarctation of the Aorta
What is Coarctation of the Aorta?
Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing
or "coarctation" of the aorta.
It occurs between the upper-body artery
branches and the lower body branches that
send out blood to these parts of the body.
This narrowing can increase blood pressure
in the head and arms and reduce it in the
lower body. The heart also is strained by
the condition. The narrowing usually occurs
just past the point where the aorta and
the subclavian artery (under the clavicle)
meet.
There often are valve abnormalities that
accompany coarctation of the aorta, such
as bicuspid aortic
valve.
It is most often seen in men, by an almost
3 to 1 ratio.
Coarctation of the aorta may be diagnosed
when increased blood pressure in the arm
is found, or decreased blood pressure in
the leg and foot is found.
Symptoms may include:
- Dizziness and fainting
- Cold legs and feet
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Nosebleeds
- Leg cramps that happen during physical
activity
- High blood pressure (hypertension) with
physical activity
Treatment Options
Surgery is usually done soon after birth
to correct a severe coarctation of the aorta.
When discovered in adolescents or adults,
coarctations generally require balloon dilation
with stent
insertion, performed in the cardiac
catheterization lab. Surgical repair
also may be undertaken by experienced cardiologists.
Follow-up Care
Follow-up care by experienced cardiologists
is crucial for patients with coarctation
of the aorta. Even when coarctation of the
aorta is successfully corrected, the risk
of hypertension in later years is high.
Hypertension leads to increased risk of
premature death from heart failure (the
heart cannot adequately pump blood throughout
the body.). Other causes of premature death
include coronary
artery disease. Aggressive management
of hypertension is key. Tests for re-coarctation
and aneurysm
should be undertaken periodically.
Need an appointment? Request one online 24
hours a day, 7 days a week; or call 800-789-PENN (7366) to speak to a
referral counselor.
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