WHAT IS COARCTATION?
A Coarctoplasty along with the insertion of a stent is often an effective strategy to treat cases of recoarctation following a previously done surgery. This is used primarily to treat coarctation of the aorta which is a form of congenital heart disease. Aorta is the largest artery of the body. It supplies oxygenated blood to the body. Because of some congenital defects, there can be an abnormal constriction or narrowing in the aorta. This narrowing is called Coarctation.
Because of coarctation, there is less space available for the blood to flow through the aorta. As there is restricted blood flow, the lower body gets a poor blood supply. As there is a constriction in the aorta, blood pressure may rise in the arms and the left ventricle has to perform higher to push the blood ahead in the aorta. A Balloon Coarctoplasty is the small tool inserted on the end of a catheter as it goes into the vein.
REASONS & SYMPTOMS
The reason for coarctation is mainly Congenital that is one arising from birth.
In mild cases, children may show no signs or symptoms at first and their condition may not be diagnosed until later in life. Additional heart defects, such as aortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus or mitral valve abnormalities are also observed in children along with coarctation.
There can be no symptoms if the narrowing is mild. When symptoms are present, they include breathing difficulties, poor appetite or trouble feeding, and failure to thrive. Later on, children may develop blood flow problems are an enlarged heart, dizziness or shortness of breath, fainting episodes, chest pain, easy & abnormal fatigue, headaches, or nosebleeds. They have cold legs and feet or have pain in their legs with exercise, as there is poor blood supply in the lower body.
