Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect in which there is a narrowed area in the aorta, the major blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This narrowing can impede blood flow to the lower part of the body and can lead to hypertension in the upper body.
The surgical treatment for coarctation of the aorta is called an aortic coarctation repair. The goal of the surgery is to widen the narrowed area of the aorta and to restore normal blood flow.
The most common surgical approach is called a resection and anastomosis. This involves making an incision in the aorta and removing the narrowed section. The two remaining ends of the aorta are then sewn back together. This technique is considered the gold standard in surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta.
Another surgical approach is called an end-to-end anastomosis, which also involves making an incision in the aorta and removing the narrowed section. The two remaining ends of the aorta are then sewn back together. But in this technique, the surgeon has to make sure that the blood flow is equal between the two ends.
In cases where there is a significant difference in the diameter of the aorta above and below the coarctation, or in cases where the coarctation is located very close to the heart, the surgeon may use a patch to widen the narrowed area. This is called patch angioplasty.
In recent years, a new method called stent angioplasty has been developed for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta. This involves using a stent, which is a small metal mesh tube, to widen the narrowed area of the aorta.
The choice of surgical approach depends on the location, size and the degree of coarctation, as well as the patient's overall health and other underlying heart defects.
In conclusion, surgical treatment for coarctation of the aorta involves widening the narrowed area of the aorta to restore normal blood flow. The most common surgical approach is resection and anastomosis, but other techniques such as end-to-end anastomosis, patch angioplasty, and stent angioplasty are also used depending on the specific case. Dr. A. Arrazaghi. MD,FRCPC