Coarctation of the Aorta
Narrowing of the upper thoracic aorta is known as Coarctation of the aorta. This defect is a congenital defect, meaning it is present at birth, can affect the body's blood circulation because the left side of the heart has to work harder to pump blood through the narrowed aorta. Sometimes the narrowing is minor and may not even cause symptoms. In other cases the aorta may be more constricted, placing a strain on the heart's left ventricle. A coarctation can occur anywhere in the aorta, but it is most often found just beyond the point where the aorta sends a branch off to supply the left arm.
To repair this defect, the aorta is clamped on either side of the narrowing, the segment of narrowing is removed, and the two ends of the aorta are sewn together directly.
In some cases, doctors may choose to do a procedure known as balloon dilation, which is also called balloon angioplasty. This is performed in a cardiac catheterization laboratory rather than an operating room and there is no real scar. For this procedure, a cardiologist inserts a tiny catheter (plastic tube) into a blood vessel in the leg and uses a very thin wire to thread it up to the aorta. This specialized catheter has a deflated balloon inside. When the catheter is in the aorta, the doctor inflates the balloon, expanding the narrow spot. After the area has been widened, the balloon is removed. The cardiologist may also implant a device called a stent, which is a tube made of metal meshwork, to keep the area open after the procedure.
