Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing of its part. A similar condition refers to congenital pathologies.
As you know, through the aorta, blood flows to all vessels from the heart. When narrowing the site, the receipt is difficult.
As practice shows, coarctation of the aorta is most common in people with certain genetic disorders (for example, Turner syndrome). This defect may also be part of a congenital malformation of the artery valves.
It should be noted that coarctation of the aorta is considered the most common congenital pathology of the cardiovascular system, detected from the moment of birth until the age of forty.
This defect can also occur in combination with other anomalies. The most common of them include:
- pathology of the mitral aortic valve ;
- the presence of only one heart ventricle;
- pathology of the interventricular septum.
The manifestation of the symptoms of the disease depends on the amount of blood that can pass through the narrowed section of the vessel for a certain period. Moreover, the presence of additional abnormalities in the development of the cardiovascular system only aggravate the condition.
As observations show, symptoms appear in the first days of life in approximately half of newborns who are diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta.
Mild cases are characterized by the absence of signs of illness until adolescence.
Signs of the disease are:
- fainting
- Dizziness
- nosebleeds;
- headache;
- cold feet or legs;
- dyspnea;
- leg cramps and increased blood pressure during physical exertion;
- chest pain
- short stature;
- retardation of development;
- fatigue after exercise.
However, it should be remembered that the clinical manifestations of the disease may be absent.
Coarctation of the aorta. Treatment
In most cases, when detecting a disease in a newborn, surgical intervention is recommended after a short period or immediately. First of all, stabilizing drugs are prescribed.
When diagnosing pathology at an older age, surgery is also indicated. However, due to the weaker severity of symptoms, patients have the opportunity to prepare for the intervention.
During the operation, the narrowed section of the aorta is opened. With small sizes of the defect, it is removed, the ends of the vessel are connected. This method of surgical treatment is called anastomosis. If it is necessary to remove a site of a significant size, a Dacron transplant or part of another patient’s artery is used to compensate for the anomaly.
In rare cases, balloon angioplasty may be used. But this method is characterized by a high level of failure.
Older children are prescribed drugs that control blood pressure. In many cases, such therapy is prescribed for life.
The disease can be eliminated with surgery. As practice shows, in most cases the symptoms disappear after surgery quickly enough.
At the same time, there is a high risk of death due to cardiovascular problems, including after surgery. If untreated, most patients die before the age of forty. Almost always, surgery is performed in infancy.
It should be noted that narrowing of the lumen can occur due to loss of tissue elasticity in the walls of the vessel. In this case, an aneurysm may form. Prerequisites for its appearance can also serve as aortic sclerosis. Treatment for this disease is also indicated surgical.
Coarctation of the aorta cannot be prevented. Experts recommend regularly undergoing examinations and, if necessary, conduct treatment without delay.