Coarctation of the aorta in infancy

In 57 infants with coarctation of the aorta severe congestive heart failure was the indication for surgical correction. More than half of them were less than 1 month of age. Associated cardiovascular anomalies were found in 48 patients. The surgical techniques utilized were resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the aorta and patch plasty using a Dacron patch or the left subclavian artery. The total mortality was 47%, and most of the deaths were due to severe associated cardiovascular anomalies. Of the 30 surviving patients 5 have been reoperated for coarctation 10 months to 8 years after the initial correction. However, recoarctation should be regarded not as an unsuccessful result but rather as a measure of the survival of these desperately ill infants.