Coarctation of the Aorta
What is Coarctation of the Aorta?
Coarctation of the Aorta
is a narrowing in the aorta causing obstruction to blood flow. (The aorta is the
main artery coming from the heart that supplies blood to the rest of the body.)
The narrowing most often is located just after the aorta gives its branches to
the head and arms as it curves down to supply the lower body. The left ventricle
of the heart has to work harder to force blood past the narrowed area. This may
cause the left ventricle to weaken. It may cause an elevation of blood pressure
before the narrowed area.
What are the warning signs and symptoms of Coarctation
of the Aorta?
Coarctation of the Aorta generally presents in one of two
ways:
- An infant, often in the second week of life, may not
tolerate the obstruction and may develop signs of significant
congestive heart failure including labored breathing, poor
feeding, and decreased urination.
- Some infants, however, tolerate the obstruction very well
and their hearts rapidly compensate. The diagnosis is then
often made later in life, either in childhood or adulthood.
(The person may be referred to a specialist because of
the presence of a heart murmur or elevated blood pressure
in the upper extremities.)
How is Coarctation of the Aorta detected?
Coarctation of the Aorta may be suspected because of the
following:
- A heart murmur
- Elevated blood pressure in the upper extremities with
lower blood pressure in the lower extremities
- Absent pulses in the lower extremities
The following tests can confirm the presence of the Coarctation:
- Echocardiography
- MRI Scan
- CT Scan
- Cardiac Catheterization
What are the treatment options for Coarctation of
the Aorta?
The treatment of Coarctation of the Aorta for many years
has been surgical repair. This is still the treatment of choice
in infants. Infants presenting with symptoms require surgical
correction. In older children and adults, a newer non-surgical
approach can be offered. A catheter is threaded from the artery
in the groin up to the area of narrowing. The catheter has
a balloon on the end of it and when the narrowed area is straddled,
the balloon is inflated to expand the area (see Balloon Angioplasty).
Sometimes a metallic stent is placed over the balloon. When
the balloon is inflated, the stent enlarges along with the
balloon to open up the narrowed area. When the balloon is
then deflated and removed, the metal stent retains its enlarged
shape and keeps the artery open.
6/16/2008 |
