5 Interesting Facts of Critical coarctation of the aorta
- Congenital narrowing of the proximal thoracic aorta (typically as stenosis in the juxtaductal position), hypoplasia of the transverse aortic arch, or stenosis of the abdominal aorta
- Heart failure results during ductal closure when coarctation is significantly stenotic owing to acute development of left ventricular outflow obstruction; manifestations closely resemble those of myocarditis
- Decreased femoral arterial pulse volume compared to right brachial artery, raised upper limb blood pressures compared with lower limb, and differential cyanosis raise concern of coarctation of the aorta
- Response to prostaglandin infusion is consistent with a ductal-dependent congenital heart lesion
- Differentiate and diagnose with transthoracic echocardiography
