In suitable fetuses, marked increases in aortic arch dimensions have been observed over treatment periods of about two to three weeks.The long-term outcome is very good. Some patients may, however, develop a narrowing (stenosis) or dilatation at the previous coarctation site. All patients with unrepaired or repaired aortic coarctation require follow-up in specialized Congenital Heart Disease centers. Gallery
Complications of surgery
Surgical treatment involves resection of the stenosed segment and re-anastomosis. Two complications specific to this surgery are left recurrent nerve palsy and chylothorax, as the recurrent laryngeal nerve and thoracic duct are in the vicinity. Chylothorax is a troublesome complication and is usually managed conservatively by adjusting the diet to eliminate long-chain fatty acids and supplementing medium-chain triglycerides. When conservative management fails surgical intervention is then most often required. Fluorescein dye can aid in the localisation of chyle leak. Prognosis
Side effects
Previously, hypertension was defined as a blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg but has since been revised by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force to a blood pressure of 130/80 mm Hg or higher in adults. This is a severe problem for the heart and can cause many other complications. In a study of 120 coarctation repair recipients done in Groningen, The Netherlands, twenty-nine patients (25%) experienced hypertension in the later years of life due to the repair.
"Coarctation of the aorta: natural history and outcome after surgical treatment". QJM. 92 (7): 365–71. doi:10.1093/qjmed/92.7.365. PMID 10627885. External links
"Coarctation of the aorta". Mayo Clinic. April 20, 2012. "Cardiac Catheterization". Cleveland Clinic. September 2013.