Coarctation of Aorta

C O A R C TAT I O N
O F T H E A O RTA
S R E E R A J S
B S C C A R D I A C C A R E
T E C H N O L O G Y
C O A R C TAT I O N O F T H E A O R TA
• Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing, or constriction, in a portion of the aorta. The

condition forces the heart to pump harder to get blood through the aorta and on to
the rest of the body.
• Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital). Although the condition can
affect any part of the aorta
• Coarctation of the aorta often occurs along with other heart defects
C L A S S I F I C AT I O N
Preductal Ductal Postductal

coarctation coarctation coarctation
• Preductal coarctation : results when an intracardiac anomaly during fetal life decreases blood
flow through the left side of the heart, leading to hypoplastic development of the aorta. This is the
type seen in approximately 5% of infants with Turner syndrome
• Ductal coarctation: The narrowing occurs at the insertion of the ductus arteriosus. This kind
usually appears when the ductus arteriosus closes.
• Postductal coarctation: The narrowing is distal to the insertion of the ductus arteriosus. Even
with an open ductus arteriosus, blood flow to the lower body can be impaired. This type is most
common in adults
PAT H O P Y S I O L O G Y
• With coarctation of the aorta, the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) of your
heart works harder to pump blood through the narrowed aorta, and blood
pressure increases in the left ventricle. This may cause the wall of the left ventricle to
thicken
CAUSES
• Traumatic injury
• Severe hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)
• Inflamed arteries (Takayasu's arteritis)
• Coarctation of the aorta usually occurs beyond the blood vessels that branch off to your upper body and
before the blood vessels that lead to your lower body. This can often lead to high blood pressure in your
arms but low blood pressure in your legs and ankles.
• With coarctation of the aorta, the lower left heart chamber (left ventricle) of your heart works harder to
pump blood through the narrowed aorta, and blood pressure increases in the left ventricle. This may cause
the wall of the left ventricle to thicken (hypertrophy).
• Coarctation of the aorta symptoms depend on the severity of the condition.
Most people don't have symptoms. Mild coarctation may not be diagnosed
until adulthood.
• Babies with severe coarctation of the aorta may begin having symptoms
shortly after birth. These include:
• Pale skin
• Irritability
• Heavy sweating
SIGNS AND • Difficulty breathing
SYMPTOMS • Difficulty feeding
• People with coarctation of the aorta may also have signs or symptoms of other
heart defects, which often occur with the condition.
• Signs or symptoms of coarctation of the aorta after infancy commonly include:
• High blood pressure
• Headaches
• Muscle weakness
• Leg cramps or cold feet
• Nosebleeds
• Chest pain
DIAGNOSIS
• Electrocardiography
• Echocardiography
• MRI
• Chest Xray
• CT Scan
• CT Angiogram
• Cardiac Catheterization
CT angiogram uses a dye and special X-rays to show the inside of your coronary arteries. It reveals blood
flow in your veins and arteries. The test can show the location and severity of the coarctation of the aorta
and determine whether it affects other blood vessels in your body. A CT angiogram can also be used to
detect other heart defects or help guide treatment
ECG FINDINGS • If the coarctation of the aorta is severe,
the ECG may show thickening of the walls of the
lower heart chambers (ventricular hypertrophy).
• Tall R waves in the

right precordial leads,
• QRS negative in lead I
• deep S waves in the left

precordial leads
• large P wave,
Aortic coarctation on chest X ray presents with irregular
notching of the inferior margins of the posterior ribs
• Years ago, surgery was the only treatment available for aortic
coarctation. Surgery is still considered the gold standard, but
today treatment options for adults with this condition also
include balloon angioplasty, stenting, stent grafting, or hybrid
repair (a combination of open surgery and stent grafts). The
choice of treatment is based on the individual's overall health,
the size and severity of the coarctation,
T R E AT M E N T
THANK YOU

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What are the different types of coarctation of the aorta?

What are some signs and symptoms of coarctation of the aorta?

C O A R C TAT I O N

• Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing, or constriction, in a portion of the aorta. The

Preductal Ductal Postductal

SYMPTOMS • Difficulty feeding

• High blood pressure

• Leg cramps or cold feet

• Tall R waves in the

• QRS negative in lead I

• deep S waves in the left

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