User:Mr. Ibrahem/Coarctation of the aorta

Not to be confused with aortic stenosis.

Mr. Ibrahem/Coarctation of the aorta
Other names	Aortic coarctation , aortic narrowing
Illustration depicting coarctation of the aorta
Specialty	Cardiac surgery
Symptoms	Newborn: Trouble breathing, sweating, irritable Later: High blood pressure in arms
Complications	Coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, cerebral vascular disease
Usual onset	Present at birth, though symptoms may develop later
Duration	Life-long
Causes	Unknown
Risk factors	Family history, Turner syndrome
Diagnostic method	Based on blood pressure, confirmed by medical imaging
Differential diagnosis	Myocarditis, aortic dissection, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, sepsis
Treatment	Surgery (open or endovascular)
Medication	Prostaglandin E1
Frequency	4 per 10,000

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA, CoAo) is a narrowing of the aorta, most commonly just beyond the exit of the left subclavian artery. While present at birth, onset of symptoms may not occur until 1 to 2 weeks after birth with trouble breathing or later in life with high blood pressure in the arms. Complications, without treatment, can include coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysm, heart failure, and cerebral vascular disease.

The cause is generally unclear. Risk factors include family history and Turner syndrome. The underlying mechanism is though to usually involve closure of the ductus arteriosus as it becomes the ligamentum arteriosum. Diagnosis is generally suspected based on checking the blood pressure in all four limbs and confirmed by medical imaging.

In newborns prostaglandin E1 may be used to temporize the condition. Surgery, either open or via a blood vessel, may than be carried out. Ongoing medications to manage blood pressure may be required. Following surgery there is a risk of reoccurrence. About 4 per 10,000 newborns are affected. The condition was first described by Giovanni Battista Morgagni in 1760.