A narrow area (stricture) is present in the aorta and leads to
restricted blood flow to the lower part of the circulation. Blood
pressure in the arms and head is high, whilst that in the legs is
low. Heart failure may develop. In most cases surgical repair is
needed, sometimes in the early weeks of life.
Repair may involve surgical removal of a short segment of aorta,
including the stricture (with the ends sewn back together) or use
of the artery to the left arm to create a flap, which is turned
down to enlarge the narrow section.
Alternatively it may, in some cases, be possible to deal with
the problem with a balloon catheter.
Coarctation Repair
Conventional repair involves the removal of the narrow segment
with the ends being sewn together ("end to end").
Subclavian Flap
With this type of repair the left arm artery (Subclavian Artery)
is used to produce a flap to enlarge the Aorta and repair the
Coarctation.
Balloon Angioplasty
A catheter with an inflatable balloon is introduced from an
artery in the leg. The balloon is inflated to enlarge the narrow
area.
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