Management of aortic coarctation

Coarctation is a congenital narrowing in the descending aorta that may be discrete or affecting long segment of the aorta.The cause of coarctation may be due to abnormal fetal blood flow patterns or due to extension of ductal tissue to the aortic wall or a combination of both theories.Severe form of aortic coarctation presents itself early during neonatal period after closure of the ductus arteriosus with congestive heart failure and shock. Patients with less severe coarctation may be asymptomatic until they develop hypertension.Diagnosis of aortic coarctation during the fetal period is difficult. Chest radiography, echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac catheterization are used for diagnosis after birth..