Saudi coarctation: the King Fahd Heart Centre experience

From 1980 through1989, 32 patients with coarctation of the aorta were operated upon in our Heart Center. 62.5% of the patients had associated cardiac anomalies. High gradient across the coarcted area was seen in 21 patients [65.6%]. 87.5% of the patients were more than 10 years old. Immediate post operative paradoxical hypertension is more common in the older age group undergoing coarctation repair than in neonates and children, and they are more likely to remain hypertensive even after coarctation repair [3]. Patch aortoplasty [Knitted Teflon. Gortex or Dacron] were the more commonly used operative method of repair in our center. Postoperative complications were minimal. Operative mortality of 3.12% is reported. We advocate early repair of coarctation where possible but in the developing countries, most of our patients present late. This group stand the danger of having to live with persistent hypertension after coarctation repair