Coarctation of the aorta

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:

Ijland, M. and Tanke, R. Aortic coarctation. Circulation. 2009; 120(13): 1294-1295. 

Kenny, D. Coarctation of the aorta: from fetal life to adulthood. Cardiol J. 2011; 18(5): 487-495. 

Peres, A. et al. Isolated aortic coarctation: experience in 100 consecutive patients. Rev Port Cardiol. 2010; 29(1): 23-35.

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