About Coarctation of the Aorta:

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect where the aortic arch, the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body, is abnormally narrowed. This narrowing restricts blood flow to the lower body, causing increased blood pressure in the upper body, especially the arms and head, while limiting circulation to the lower extremities. The condition is usually present from birth but may not be detected until later in life. While surgery is often successful in correcting the defect, lifelong follow-up care is necessary to monitor for any potential complications.

Symptoms in Infants:

• Difficulty breathing
• Feeding problems
• Excessive sweating
• Irritability
• Pale or cool skin

Procedure of Coarctation of the Aorta:

Coarctation of the aorta is generally caused by a congenital defect, although it can rarely develop later in life. The narrowing typically occurs near the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel connecting the aorta and the left pulmonary artery. Treatment is required to relieve the obstruction and restore normal blood flow.

Surgical and Interventional Procedures:

• Balloon Angioplasty and Stenting: This minimally invasive procedure is often the first line of treatment for coarctation. A balloon is used to widen the narrowed area, and a stent may be placed to keep the aorta open. It may also be used if narrowing recurs after previous surgery.

• Resection with End-to-End Anastomosis: In this surgery, the narrowed portion of the aorta is removed, and the two healthy sections are connected. This method is effective for shorter areas of narrowing.

• Subclavian Flap Aortoplasty: A section of the left subclavian artery, which supplies blood to the left arm, is used to enlarge the narrowed part of the aorta.

• Bypass Graft Repair: A synthetic graft or tube is used to bypass the constricted section of the aorta, allowing blood to flow normally.

• Patch Angioplasty: For cases where a long section of the aorta is narrowed, the surgeon cuts across the narrowed area and attaches a patch, often made of synthetic material, to widen the blood vessel.