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Coarctation of the Aorta (COA)

Also known as: COA

What is Coarctation of the Aorta (COA)?

Coarctation of the aorta is a heart condition that is present at birth involving the narrowing of the aorta. This defect may occur on its own or in association with more complex heart defects and patients with chromosomal abnormalities.

What are the signs/symptoms?

  • Rapid breathing
  • Sweating
  • Lethargy

What causes Coarctation of the aorta?

COA may be caused by an improper development of the aorta during fetal growth; however most of the time this heart defect occurs by chance, with no clear reason for their development.

How is Coarctation of the aorta diagnosed?

COA may be discovered during your child’s physical exam, while a pediatrician is obtaining the child’s vital signs. The first suspicion of a coarctation is when the doctor notes a lower blood pressure in the legs. Other test that assist with diagnosing include:

  • Chest X-ray
  • Echocardiography(ECHO):  An echo uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart’s chambers, valves, walls and the blood vessels (aorta, arteries, veins) attached to your heart.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG): An electrocardiogram checks for problems with the electrical activity of the heart
  • Cardiac catheterization: A minimally invasive procedure that provides comprehensive information about the structures inside the heart.

Treatment for Coarctation of the Aorta

If your baby is diagnosed with COA, the treatment is surgical repair of the narrowed vessel. The cardiovascular surgeon will cut out the narrowed section and sew the two healthy ends of the aorta back together. This reconstructs the arch and institutes normal blood flow through the aorta.

This page was last updated on: 3/23/2026 5:15:28 PM

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Heart Murmur When the heartbeat is interrupted by unusual sounds such as blowing, whooshing or rasping, it’s called a heart murmur.
Congenital Heart Defects/Disease Any unusual physical feature or health problem that is present at the birth of a baby is known as a birth defect or a congenital anomaly.
Shone's Syndrome Shone’s syndrome, is a rare form of congenital heart disease where there is a combination of four left-sided heart defects.
Ross-Konno Procedure Ross-Konno procedure is a surgery to repair a damaged aortic valve. The aortic valve is responsible for pumping blood from the heart out to the body. The left ventricular outflow tract is also enlarged as part of the Ross-Konno procedure.
Balloon Angioplasty and Stent Angioplasty for Coarctation of the Aorta When feasible, a balloon angioplasty with or without stent angioplasty is a medical procedure that can help restore the flow of blood to the lower extremities.
Coarctation Repair Coarctation of the aorta is a when a portion or segment of the aorta is narrowed and restricts the flow of blood to the body. Coarctation repair is a surgery performed to repair the aorta.