Coarctation of the Aorta Masquerading as Abdominal Pain in an 11-Year-Old Boy: A Case Report

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is a congenital heart defect characterized by constriction of the aortic lumen, which tends to cause left ventricular overload and distinctive levels of systemic hypertension. However, symptoms, such as intermittent high blood pressure and abdominal pain, tend to emerge in late childhood. Herein, we report the case of an 11-year-old boy who presented with an array of symptoms, including intermittent vomiting, nausea, and recurrent epigastric pain, and was diagnosed with CoA. A series of clinical examinations revealed upper-limb hypertension with a pressure gradient between the lower and upper extremities. Echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis and showed that the CoA had a peak gradient of 49 mmHg. Additionally, computed tomography angiography revealed anatomical narrowing at the isthmus of the distal transverse arch and descending aorta. Therefore, the patient was stabilized with intravenous labetalol and underwent successful stent angioplasty. The patient tolerated the procedure well, and after two days of observation and stabilization, he was discharged home with scheduled follow-up at the cardiology clinic for antihypertensive and antiplatelet therapy.