Coarctation of the aorta in adults: what is the best treatment? Case report and literature review

• Published in: Journal of medicine and life Vol. 4; no. 2; pp. 189 - 195
• Main Authors: Jurcut, R, Daraban, A M, Lorber, A, Deleanu, D, Amzulescu, M S, Zara, C, Popescu, B A, Ginghina, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Romania Carol Daila University Foundation 15.05.2011; Carol Davila University Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aortic Coarctation - complications; Aortic Coarctation - diagnostic imaging; Aortic Coarctation - therapy; Case Presentation; Echocardiography, Doppler; Female; Humans; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - complications; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - diagnostic imaging; Middle Aged; Radiography, Thoracic; Stents; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; covered stent; balloon angioplasty; aortic coarctation; surgery
• ISSN: 1844-122X; 1844-3117

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital cardiac malformation that can go undiagnosed until old age with only hypertension as a marker of its presence because clinical signs can be subtle and overlooked if a complete physical exam is not performed. We report the case of a 45 year-old women, diagnosed with severe coarctation of the aorta just distal to the left subclavian artery, with poststenotic dilatation of the descending aorta and difficult control of blood pressure values. The patient was successfully treated interventionally, by balloon angioplasty with deployment of a covered stent. We review here the different methods employed for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta in adults, including surgical or percutaneous balloon angioplasty with or without stent placement, underlying their complications and the factors that influence the choice of the best coarctation repair method.