Coarctation of aorta presenting as acute abdominal pain.

ABSTRACT

Coarctation of aorta is the most common cardiovascular cause of secondary hypertension. The condition is correctable although early diagnosis is often not made. We report the case of a 9-year-old child who was admitted with severe intractable abdominal pain as the presenting symptom of post-subclavian coarctation of aorta with hypertension. His pain resolved after control of hypertension with parenteral antihypertensives and the narcotic analgesics. He subsequently underwent transcatheter balloon dilation of the coarctation of aorta and remains well with normal blood pressure on follow-up.