Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital narrowing of the aorta, the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. That narrow segment hinders the passage of blood and forces the heart to work harder.

Which specialist treats it? It is usually assessed by the cardiologist and, when correction is needed, the cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon or the vascular surgeon are involved; the angiologist contributes to the study of circulation.

Possible manifestations: differences in pressure between the arms and legs, headache, coldness in the lower extremities, or fatigue with exertion. Sometimes it is detected without obvious symptoms.

When to seek care? If high blood pressure of unclear origin is identified or an abnormality of blood flow is suspected, a specialized cardiology evaluation is worthwhile to guide the next steps.