Coarctation of the Aorta

Sørland, S. J., Rostad, H., Forfang, K. and Åbyholm, G. (Departments of Paediatrics, Surgery and Medicine, Rikshospitalet, The National Hospital, Oslo 1, Norway). Coarctation of the aorta. A follow‐up study after surgical treatment in infancy and childhood. Acta Paediatr Scand, 69: 113, 1980.—Between 1951 and 1973, 138 patients aged 0 to 12 years were operated on for coarctation of the aorta. Ten of 18 infants died early. There were 3 late deaths, 2 occurred suddenly and 1 after reoperation. Three of the 125 late survivors had severe, 19 had slight symptoms, while 103 had no complaints, 3 of whom refused examination. The remaining 122 cases were examined between 2 and 24 years (mean 10.9 years) after the operation. Two patients had sequelae from an operative spinal cord injury and 2 had late hemipareses (traumatic in one). Recoarctation, defined as arm/leg pressure gradient exceeding mmHg, totally occurred in 18.7%, and in 4 of 7 cases operated on in infancy. Hypertension without recoarctation was observed in 17.2% and associated cardiovascular anomalies in 18% of the late survivors. It is suggested that the optimal age for surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta is between 4 and 6 years of age. A long‐term follow‐up is recommended in all patients