Early repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Abstract

1. Coarctation repair consisting of resection of all ductal tissue with end-to-side anastomosis of the descending aorta to the undersurface of the (proximal) aortic arch, if necessary combined with a side-to side left carotid-subclavian arterioplasty, may lead to excellent results. 2. This technique can be applied with low mortality and morbidity via a left thoracotomy if the proximal aortic arch is at least 5 mm in diameter. 3. In view of the low mortality, the low incidence of restenosis at the coarctation repair site, and the absence of substantial morbidity including the development of hypertension, we advocate repair of aortic coarctation at neonatal age or in early infancy to avoid the detrimental sequelae of delayed repair of coarctation, in particular hypertension.