COARCTATION OF THE AORTA

Course overview

COARCTATION OF THE AORTA IS A NARROWING OF THE AORTA, MOST COMMONLY OCCURRING JUST BEYOND THE LEFT SUBCLAVIAN ARTERY. HOWEVER, IT CAN OCCUR IN VARIOUS OTHER LOCATIONS OF THE AORTIC ARCH OR EVEN IN THE THORACIC OR ABDOMINAL AORTA. THE NARROWING OF THE AORTA RAISES THE UPPER BODY BLOOD PRESSURE, CAUSING UPPER EXTREMITY HYPERTENSION. UNREPAIRED COARCTATION LEADS TO PREMATURE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION, AORTIC ANEURYSM/DISSECTION, AND CEREBRAL VASCULAR DISEASE BY THE THIRD OR FOURTH DECADE OF LIFE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PRESENTATION, EVALUATION, AND MANAGEMENT OF COARCTATION OF THE AORTA AND STRESSES THE ROLE OF AN INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM APPROACH TO CARE FOR AFFECTED PATIENTS.