[Coarctation of the thoracoabdominal aorta]

Coarctation of the thoracic or abdominal aorta often is associated with reduced perfusion of one or both kidneys, resulting in severe renovascular hypertension, which significantly influences the spontaneous course of these patients. Fourteen of 15 patients who were operated upon between 1983 and 1996 suffered from arterial hypertension. Thirteen patients had ischemia of one or both kidneys resulting from renal artery stenosis or stenosis of the descending or visceral aorta. Because of a hemodynamically significant stenosis the aorta was reconstructed in 11 patients by interposition graft, bypass, or patchplasty. Concerned renal or visceral arteries were reconstructed by bypass/interposition graft, patchplasty, or reimplantation. One patient died, presumably from septic bleeding, 3 weeks post operatively. There was a cure of hypertension in 3 and an improvement in 6 patients. In the individual patient hypertension could be cured more often if the diagnosis of coarctation were established early.