[Results of surgical treatment of aortic coarctation]

The authors summarize the results of surgical treatment of coarctation of the aorta in 98 patients. Te group comprised 70 children aged 3 to 15 years and 28 adults. The most frequently used technique was resection of the coarctation with a direct end-to-end anastomosis. It was used in a total of 83 patients. Three patients died, i. e. 3.1%. Of 32 patients who were invited for a check-up examination 16 came. Three of them had undergone a plastic operation with a dacron patch. All were subjected to angiographic examination in a lateral projection by injection of the contrast substance into the aortal arch and pressure readings were taken in the aorta above and below the site of anastomosis. Residual gradients were found in three patients (10, 12, 20 torr). Hypertension persists in 6 patients. In four patients slight stenosis of the aorta was found without a gradient, in one patient a small pseudoaneurysm. None of the findings called for further surgical intervention.