How Is Coarctation of the Aorta Diagnosed?
If a teen has the signs or symptoms of COA, the doctor may refer him or her to
a pediatric cardiologist — a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating
heart problems in kids and teens.
The cardiologist will listen to the heart, feel the pulses, measure blood pressure,
and probably order an echocardiogram (a test that uses sound waves
to create a picture of the heart and its circulation). Other tests that produce images
of the heart also might be done, such as a chest X-ray, a magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) test, or a computerized tomography (CT) scan to look for a narrowing of the
aorta.
Doctors often recommend that COA be treated quickly, especially in teens and adults.
The longer a COA is left untreated, the more likely it is that the person will have
high blood pressure
even after the COA is fixed. An untreated defect can even be fatal.
How Is Coarctation of the Aorta Treated?
Coarctation of the aorta can be repaired in several ways. Surgery can very effectively
repair a narrowing of the aorta, usually by removing the narrow section and reconnecting
the two good ends of the aorta.
In some cases, doctors might do a procedure known as balloon dilation
(also called balloon angioplasty). In this procedure, a tiny balloon
is inserted into a blood vessel in the leg and a very thin wire is threaded up to
the aorta, across the narrow area. When the balloon is inflated, the narrow area is
widened. Then the balloon is removed. The cardiologist also may implant a stent to
keep the area open after the procedure.
Taking Care of Yourself
After the defect is fixed, most symptoms of COA disappear quickly because the blockage
that caused them is gone. Some people will still have high blood pressure for a while
and may have to take medicine to control it.
People who have surgery often feel completely better after a couple of weeks, and
those who have had the balloon treatment feel better even sooner, often within a couple
of days.
But doctors recommend that all patients avoid certain physical activities —
especially lifting heavy objects or playing certain sports that could cause an impact
to the chest — for several weeks or months to give their bodies enough time
to heal. Someone whose blood pressure remains high may have to continue to limit certain
activities until the blood pressure lowers.
People who've had a COA corrected will need to see their doctors regularly. Sometimes,
the narrowing can return after surgery or balloon dilation treatment. Visits to the
cardiologist every year or two after recovery will let the doctor monitor blood pressure
and look for signs that COA could be returning.
Patients also need to monitor themselves and call the doctor if they have shortness
of breath, chest pain, or fainting. But overall, teens who have coarctation of the
aorta can expect to lead a normal life after treatment.
Date reviewed: January 2017