Coarctation Of Aorta

Description

Coarctation is a narrowing of aorta produced by ridge like protrusions from within the aorta. This is an obstructive congenital heart lesion and may be accompanied by other abnormalities of aorta and some valvular lesions of heart. COA is classified based on its relationship to the ductus arteriosus as preductal, ductal and postductal. COA can remain  asymptomatic for very long. It is usually diagnosed  incidentally in early stages and because of occurence of complications at later stage.The delay in diagnosis and intrinsic arterial pathophysiology contribute to long term complications like – hypertension, aneurysm of aorta and aortic rupture. COA can be treated either by surgical repair or by interventional methods like balloon angioplasty or stenting.