treatment

Last reviewed 01/2023

Treatment is by surgical excision of the coarctation and end-to-end anastomosis of the aorta. An extensive coarctation may require prosthetic vascular grafts.

Note that hypertension may not resolve after treatment, which may be because of previous damage to the kidneys.

A recent alternative to the use of surgery is the use of balloon angioplasty. The long-term outcome of this procedure remains to be determined. Balloon angioplasty is certainly of use in recurrence of coarctation.

Paraplegia is a recognised consequence of surgical repair secondary to damage to collateral blood supply to the spine.