Key result
Transthoracic echocardiography achieves ~91% diagnostic accuracy for aortic coarctation compared with surgery.
Why the study?
Coarctation of the aorta is an uncommon condition complicating pregnancy, with unusual sites such as the descending thoracic aorta rarely reported.
Observational (n=53)
No
TTE may support diagnosis of atypical coarctation in pregnancy; leaves open need for validation before wider adoption.
BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta is an uncommon condition complicating pregnancy. It is often associated with hypertension and usually involves the aortic isthmus. CASE: Coarctation of the descending thoracic aorta was found at 21 weeks’ gestation after physical findings of hypertension, a holosystolic murmur over the entire left hemithorax, and diminished lower extremity pulses. The diagnosis led to thoracotomy and placement of a graft bypass after an otherwise uneventful pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Unusual sites of coarctation of the aorta complicating pregnancy include the descending thoracic aorta.
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David M. Sherer (2002) conducted an observational in Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) (n=53). Transthoracic echocardiography vs. Surgical findings was evaluated on Diagnostic accuracy of transthoracic echocardiography compared to surgery (p=0.067). Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrated a 90.6% diagnostic accuracy for identifying coarctation of the aorta when compared to surgical findings, with no significant statistical difference.
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