Coarctation (=narrowing) of the aorta usually occurs just distal to the left subclavian artery.
Males are more commonly affected that females.
Presentation:
- At birth:
- Decreased femoral pulses
- Failure to thrive
- Heart murmur
- In later life:
- Headache
- Claudication
- Hypertension
- Recurrent epistaxis
- Radio-femoral delay
Associations include:
- Bicuspid aortic valve (approx 50%)
- VSD
CXR may show rib notching due to collaterals
Management is surgery or stenting.
References: