[Influence of age at operation on the results of aortic coarctation surgery]

The aim of our study is to determine the ideal operative age of aortic coarctation. 30 patients (20 male and 10 female) have had surgery for coarctation of the aorta between 1990 and 1998. Mean operative age is 4.5 years (range 2 months and 13 years). Crafoord technique was performed in 23 cases, modified Crafoord technique in 3 cases, Waldhausen operation in 3 cases and coarctectomie with insertion of a prosthetic material in one case. A post-coarctectomy syndrome was noted in one case. There were no early deaths. The mean follow-up period is 4.5 years. 8 patients were noted to have late systemic hypertension (26.5%). It is more frequent in patients that have been operated after the age of 5 years (43%). One patient has had a recoarctation (3%). No late death was noted. 4 patients had to undergo a reoperation for cardiac associated anomalies.