Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of the aorta is a point along the aorta at which the walls are pinched, narrowed or pressed together. The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. It travels from the heart, through the chest and down through the abdomen, branching off into smaller arteries along its length that carry the oxygen-rich blood to the brain, fingers, toes and all other body parts. When any part of this vital artery is narrowed, it can lead to fatal consequences. In fact, patients who do not undergo surgery for this condition are unlikely to reach the age of 40.

Fortunately, surgery is available to correct coarctation of the aorta and only requires three to four days in the hospital. If done before the patient has reached the age of 10, the majority of cases are successfully treated. After surgery, patients will need to take antibiotics before any dental, medical or surgical procedure that they may have from that point on to reduce their risk of infection in either the aorta or one of the heart’s four valves (endocarditis).

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