Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect which describes the condition of a narrowing segment in the aorta, the large blood vessel that branches off the heart and delivers oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

This is a fairly common congenital heart condition as it constitutes 8% of all cardio congenital conditions. When one has coarctation of the aorta (or aortic coarctation) from birth, this mean the heart must pump harder to force blood through the narrow part of your aorta. Although present from birth, this condition may not be detected until adulthood, depending on how narrowed the aorta and severe the condition is.

There are three types of the aortic coarctation condition:

• Preductal coarctation: The narrowing is located in the aorta prior to where the ductus arteriosusIn the developing fetus, the ductus arteriosus (DA), also called the ductus Botalli, is a shunt connecting the pulmonary artery to the aortic arch. (ligamentum arteriosum after regression) inserts to the heart.
• Ductal coarctation: The narrowing occurs at the insertion of the ductus arteriosus.
• Postductal coarctation: The narrowing appears after the insertion of the ductus arteriosus. This is the most common type of the three.

Coarctation of the Aorta Video

Coarctation of the Aorta Symptoms

Coarctation of the aorta condition may range from mild to severe and the symptoms depend on the specific diagnosis. Children with a sever condition will tent to show symptoms earlier in life as more mild cases may go undetected until adulthood.

Severe coarctation of the aorta usually shows symptoms shortly after birth, as these can include:

• Pale skin
• Heavy sweating
• Difficulty breathing

Older children or adults who haven't been diagnosed, but do have this condition do not always show symptoms, as they have a more mild cases. If symptoms do appear, they may include:

• High blood pressure (the most common symptom)
• Shortness of breath, especially during exercise
• Headache
• Muscle weakness
• Nosebleeds

Coarctation of the Aorta Surgery

Once diagnosed, the patient must undergo surgery in order to treat this condition and repair it, no matter how mild or sever the condition is. There are five types of surgery done today:

• Resection with end-to-end anastomosis - A surgery in which the narrowed segment is removed after which the surgeon will connect the two ends of the aorta together.
• Extended End to End – Similar to the first procedure, after the narrowed segment is removed, the surgeon attaches the aortic arch to the lower aorta, which is supposed to prevent recoarctation.
• Left Subclavian Flap Angioplasty - A portion of the left subclavian artery (that delivers blood to your left arm) is used as a patch to expand the narrowed area of the artery.
• Patch Aortoplasty - The surgeon will cut across the constricted area of the aorta and then attach a patch of synthetic material to widen the blood vessel.
• Bypass graft repair - When the narrowing is extremely long then the surgeon will bypass the narrowed area by inserting a plastic tube called a graft between the portions of the aorta.

A final solution is a Balloon angioplasty in which the surgeon will perform a catheterization, and open up the narrowing with a balloon as well as leave a stent in place to make sure it will stay open.

Coarctation of the Aorta Surgery Abroad

The aortic coarctation condition can be dangerous and must be treated as soon as possible by the best cardio surgeons available. TicketMed is affiliated with the top cardio institutes and surgeons around the world and will be happy to assist you in scheduling surgery, as quick as possible, for yourself or your child. Contact us or ask for a quote.