Benefits of surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta in patients older than 50 years

Asymptomatic Coarctation of the Aorta in Adults with Preserved Exercise Capacity: A Case Report

We herein report a case of coarctation of the aorta (CoA) in an asymptomatic adult who had a preserved exercise capacity. A 56-year-old man with mild hypertension exhibited left ventricular hypertrophy on an electrocardiogram during an annual medical checkup. Echocardiography showed a bicuspid aortic valve and cor triatriatum sinister, and subsequent computed tomography revealed CoA with developed collaterals. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing showed a good exercise capacity. He refused surgical repair and has been asymptomatic for five years. This case is of special interest, as CoA is usually rarely noticed during adulthood if there are no severe congenital anomalies, and in addition, this patient had good exercise capacity.

Successful Surgical and Endovascular Multidisciplinary Therapy for Mid-aortic Syndrome with Complicated Atherosclerotic Comorbidities in an Older Patient

Mid-aortic syndrome (MAS) is a rare vascular disorder that causes refractory hypertension. A 76-year-old woman was hospitalized for acute heart failure (HF) with drug-resistant hypertension; other comorbidities included epigastric artery rupture, old myocardial infarction, an intraventricular thrombus, and a cerebral artery aneurysm. Angiography revealed severe narrowing of the descending aorta, which led to the diagnosis of MAS. Although intensive medical treatment improved her HF, optimal blood pressure (BP) could not be achieved. Percutaneous coronary intervention and surgical bypass for diseased aorta was then performed in two stages, resulting in the achievement of optimal BP and alleviation of HF.

Primary surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta in adolescents and adults: intermediate results and consequences of hypertension

OBJECTIVES

Coarctation of the aorta is known to present with hypertension in older patients; we reviewed our experience and assessed the outcome of hypertension following surgical correction.

METHODS

From April 2004 to date, 43 patients above the age of 12 underwent coarctation of the aorta repair. The mean age was 20.4 + 9.7 years (maximum 56 years); 21 (48.8%) were older than 18 years and 28 (65.1%) were men. Thirty (69.8%) patients had hypertension. Fourteen (32.6%) had a bicuspid aortic valve; 11 (25.6%) had patent ductus arteriosus; 6 (14%) had myxomatous mitral valve; 4 (9.3%) had ascending aortic aneurysms; and 2 (4.7%) had descending aneurysms.

RESULTS

Surgical correction included resection and interposition of a tube graft in 31 (72.1%), an end-to-end anastomosis in 6 (14%) and patch aortoplasty in 3 (7%). Three (7%) patients required an extra-anatomical bypass: 1 had a long segment coarctation of the aorta, and 2 had a Bentall procedure with an ascending-to-descending aortic bypass. Staged procedures were done for concomitant disease in 4 (9.3%). There was 1 death: a 56-year-old woman died of refractory ventricular fibrillation during surgery. Thirty (69.8%) patients were discharged with antihypertensive medication. At a follow-up of 2.8 ± 2.2 years (maximum 9.2 years), the number of hypertensive patients decreased (17/36; 47.2%) (P = 0.042). Univariable predictors for persistence of hypertension revealed the use of an interpositional tube graft for repair (odds ratio 13.855, confidence interval 0.000-0.001; P = 0.001) as an indicator, whereas there were no independent predictors for persistence of hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical intervention is warranted irrespective of age and helps correct and control hypertension better; however, significant numbers of patients still require antihypertensive medication and regular monitoring. Intervention using an interposition tube graft may affect the prevalence of hypertension.

One stage surgical treatment of aortic valve disease and aortic coarctation with aortic bypass grafting through the diaphragm and aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES

To validate ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass grafting treatment for patients with descending aortic coarctation and an aortic valve disease.

METHODS

The three patients in whom a descending atypical aortic coarctation was associated with an aortic valve disease were treated with one stage surgical treatment with aortic bypass grafting through the diaphragm and aortic valve replacement in our heart center. Operative technique consisted of performing ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass grafting through diaphragm muscle and implementing aortic valve replacement. The mean time for extracorporeal circulation and occluding clamp of aorta was recorded. Blood pressure data for pre- and post-operation was measured in the limbs. Computer-enhanced transvenous angiograms of pre- and post-operation were applied for detection of aortic stenosis. The other adverse events were noticed in outpatient service during a follow-up period.

RESULTS

The mean extracorporeal circulation time was 54 ± 11 min. The mean time for occluding clamp of aorta was 34 ± 6 min. An arterial pressure gradient was totally corrected after surgical treatment. Post-operation computer-enhanced transvenous angiograms showed the grafts to be open with a fluent flow. The patients had no gastrointestinal tract complications. No adverse event was noticed during a follow-up period in outpatient service.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of ascending aorta-lower abdominal aorta bypass is advisable for patients with descending aortic coarctation and an aortic valve disease.

[Middle aortic coarctation: a rare vascular disorder]

OBJECTIVE

Coarctation of the descending thoracic aorta is uncommon, with controversial etiology. Usually, severe hypertension is the main symptom; lower extremity claudication is less often found. Surgical management remains the standard for long coarctation and provides good results.

METHODS

We report three cases of coarctation of the descending aorta operated at our department of cardiovascular surgery of Hospital La Rabta between January 2012 and December 2013.

RESULTS

The median age was 19 years and the median follow-up was 16 months. Hypertension was the most common clinical manifestation. The diagnosis was made by computed tomography angiography. Two cases were treated by an aorto-aortic bypass and one by subclavian-descending aorta bypass. Recovery was excellent, with a decrease in antihypertensive medications (four to two) and restoration of all distal pulses.

CONCLUSIONS

Middle aortic coarctation is a rare entity. Etiologies include congenital, acquired, inflammatory and infectious causes. The condition is considered a life-threatening emergency as a result of the complications associated with severe hypertension. Depending on technical considerations, open surgical bypass remains the standard repair for mid-aortic syndrome.

Familial aortic coarctation: a rare cause of refractory hypertension in the elderly: a case report

We report the first case of late presentation of familial aortic coarctation, a rare cause of hypertension. Diagnosis of familial aortic coarctation in the elderly is exceptional, given that in the absence of endovascular or surgical repair patients do not usually survive beyond 50 years of age. Our case concerns a 72-year-old woman with hypertension of long evolution, control of which improved markedly after endovascular repair of the coarctation. Her son had undergone surgery for repair of aortic coarctation at the age of 23 years.

Open repair of adult aortic coarctation mostly by a resection and graft replacement technique

BACKGROUND

We report on our experience with treatment of adults requiring de novo or redo open aortic coarctation repair mostly by a resection and interposition graft technique.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed all patients older than 16 years requiring open repair of aortic coarctation. Indications for repair, operative details, and outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Between 1996 and 2011, we treated 29 adult aortic coarctation patients with open repair. The mean age was 42 years (range, 17-69 years), and there were 15 men. Nine patients had previous repair with recurrence; the remaining 20 had native coarctation. Thoracic aortic aneurysms were present in 22 patients (76%), ranging in size from 3.0 to 9.6 cm (mean, 4.8 cm). Four patients had intercostal artery aneurysms (range, 1.0-2.5 cm), four had left subclavian artery aneurysms, and four had ascending/arch aneurysms. The most common repair was resection of aortic coarctation with interposition graft replacement (93%). Two patients without aneurysm had bypasses from the proximal descending thoracic aorta to the infrarenal aorta without aortic resection. There was no in-hospital mortality, stroke, or paraplegia. Long-term survival was 89% during a median follow-up of 81 months (interquartile range, 47-118 months), with no patient requiring reoperation on the repaired segment.

CONCLUSIONS

Open repair of native and recurrent adult aortic coarctation has acceptable morbidity and low mortality. Especially in patients with concomitant aneurysm, resection with interposition graft replacement provides a safe and durable repair option.

Coarctation of aorta with complete aortic occlusion

Survival to advanced age is exceptional in patients with unrepaired aortic coarctation. We report the case of an 81-year-old man with aortic coarctation and total occlusion who was otherwise asymptomatic. Coarctation was suspected when a femoral-radial pulse delay was noted during his routine physical examination. A 70-mmHg systolic blood pressure gradient between the upper and lower extremities was detected. Subsequent magnetic resonance angiography, aortography, and coronary angiography revealed severe coarctation of the aorta, well-developed collateral vessels, and severe coronary artery disease. A staged percutaneous coronary intervention procedure was performed and the coarctation was managed conservatively with antihypertensive medication.

Extraanatomic Reconstruction for Isolated Thoracic Aorta Coarctation in an Adult Patient

A 42-year-old male patient with no medical history except hypertension presented with intermittent chest pain radiating to the left shoulder. From coronary computed tomography, a coarctation of proximal descending thoracic aorta was found demonstrating near aortic occlusion. From various available surgical options for this condition, we chose extraanatomic bypass from the left subclavian artery to the descending aorta.

Coarctation of the Aorta Stent Trial (COAST): study design and rationale

BACKGROUND

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) accounts for 4% to 5% of congenital cardiac abnormalities. Stent therapy has become an accepted alternative to surgery for older children and adults, although there are no balloon-expandable stents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the aorta. The Cheatham-Platinum (CP) stent was designed for CoA therapy and is widely used outside the United States. We have designed the first prospective trial of stent therapy for CoA to serve as the pivotal trial for Food and Drug Administration approval of the CP stent.

METHODS

The COAST study is a prospective, multicenter, single-arm clinical study. The population includes patients with native or recurrent CoA. Four primary outcome variables were defined. For each variable, the stent will be compared to performance guidelines derived from surgical experience. The first efficacy outcome is reduction in arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradient, and the second is reduction in hospital length of stay. Safety outcomes include the following: the occurrence of any serious or somewhat serious adverse event attributed to the stent or implantation procedure and the occurrence of postprocedure paradoxical hypertension. A total of 105 patients treated with the CP stent will be enrolled.

DISCUSSION

To ascertain the effectiveness and safety of an interventional device, randomized controlled trials have been offered as the criterion standard. However, these trials are not well suited to study rare conditions such as CoA, especially once the therapy in question has received acceptance within the medical community. New clinical trial and statistical approaches are needed to evaluate such therapies. The COAST study is an example of this kind of innovative trial design.

Severe aortic coarctation in a 75-year-old woman: total simultaneous repair of aortic coarctation and severe aortic stenosis

Aortic coarctation is usually diagnosed and repaired in childhood and early adulthood. Survival of a patient with an uncorrected coarctation to more than 70 years of age is extremely unusual, and management strategies for these cases remain controversial. We present a case of a 75-year-old woman who was first diagnosed with aortic coarctation and severe aortic valve stenosis 5 years ago and who underwent a successful one-stage repair involving valve replacement and insertion of an extra-anatomical bypass graft from the ascending to the descending aorta.

Endovascular management of coarctation of the aorta

Untreated thoracic aortic coarctation leads to early death predominantly because of hypertension and its cardiovascular sequelae. Surgical treatment has been available for > 50 years and has improved hypertension and survival. More recently, endovascular techniques have offered a minimally invasive alternative to traditional open repair. Early and intermediate results suggest angioplasty and stenting have an important role in the management of aortic coarctation, particularly in adults and older children.

Therapy refractory hypertension in adults: aortic coarctation has to be ruled out

In patients with unexplained hypertension, especially in combination with a cardiac murmur, the presence of an aortic coarctation should always be ruled out given the high morbidity and mortality. However, particularly patients with an isolated coarctation often remain asymptomatic for years and the defect may be unnoticed even until the fifth or sixth decade of life. In the present article, we describe two patients with late detected coarctation to illustrate the clinical consequences, diagnostic clues for earlier detection and current therapeutic options to achieve optimal treatment. The key sign of an aortic coarctation, a difference in arterial blood pressure measured between the upper and lower extremities, should always be examined, followed by echocardiography. We conclude that even in case of a late detected severe coarctation, surgical or percutaneous repair has proven to be feasible and substantially effective, improving quality of life and lowering the risk of further hypertension-associated problems.

A severe coarctation of aorta in a 52-year-old male: a case report

Aortic coarctation is a congenital malformation of the aorta usually diagnosed and corrected early in life. Long-term survival is exceptional in patients with untreated aortic coarctation. In this case report, we present a late diagnosis of aortic coarctation in a 52-year-old male. Our patient was relatively asymptomatic until he presented with exertional dyspnea and fatigue in his fifth decade of life. The patient was managed by surgery of aorta. After the 1-year follow-up visit, the patient was in good clinical condition.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society 2009 Consensus Conference on the management of adults with congenital heart disease: outflow tract obstruction, coarctation of the aorta, tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein anomaly and Marfan's syndrome

With advances in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, the population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. In the current era, there are more adults with CHD than children. This population has many unique issues and needs. Since the 2001 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Consensus Conference report on the management of adults with CHD, there have been significant advances in the field of adult CHD. Therefore, new clinical guidelines have been written by Canadian adult CHD physicians in collaboration with an international panel of experts in the field. Part II of the guidelines includes recommendations for the care of patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and bicuspid aortic valve disease, coarctation of the aorta, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, tetralogy of Fallot, Ebstein anomaly and Marfan's syndrome. Topics addressed include genetics, clinical outcomes, recommended diagnostic workup, surgical and interventional options, treatment of arrhythmias, assessment of pregnancy risk and follow-up requirements. The complete document consists of four manuscripts that are published online in the present issue of The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. The complete document and references can also be found at www.ccs.ca or www.cachnet.org.

The results of catheter-based therapy compared with surgical repair of adult aortic coarctation

A review was performed to compare the results of endovascular therapy (stenting and angioplasty) with surgical techniques to repair adult aortic coarctation. The immediate improvement in hypertension and the morbidity were similar across all groups. Surgical therapy was associated with a very low risk of restenosis and recurrence, whereas endovascular therapy had a much higher incidence of restenosis and the need for repeat interventions. The long-term outcome of endovascular approaches will need to be assessed in the future.

Endovascular aortic coarctation stenting in adolescents and adults: Angiographic and hemodynamic outcomes

OBJECTIVES

To assess the procedural, clinical, angiographic, and hemodynamic outcomes, including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at 1 year in adolescent and adult patients undergoing primary stenting for treatment of aortic coarctation.

BACKGROUND

Stenting is widely used for treatment of aortic coarctation. Data regarding efficacy of this treatment for control of hypertension at 1 year is scant, with only one reported series of planned angiographic follow up. The impact of newer type stents for this procedure is also unknown.

METHODS

Thirty-seven patients undergoing stenting for aortic coarctation, over a 3-year period in a tertiary centre were studied as part of an observational protocol.

RESULTS

Peak gradient across the coarctation fell from 28.3 +/- 15.1 to 3.7 +/- 4.1 post procedure and was 11.9 +/- 8.9 mmHg (P < 0.05 compared to baseline) at 1 year. There was one major complication (2.7%), with no deaths. Small aneurysms were seen in three patients (13%) on follow up angiography at 1 year. Right arm systolic blood pressures fell from 155 +/- 19 to 132 +/- 22 (P < 0.05) at 6 weeks and was 132 +/- 16 mmHg (P < 0.05 compared to baseline) at 1 year. Ambulatory average systolic blood pressures fell from 142 +/- 14 to 133 +/- 15 at 6 weeks (P < 0.05) and to 125 +/- 12 mmHg (P < 0.05 compared to baseline) at 1 year. No significant differences were seen in procedural outcomes between patients receiving Palmaz and CPNumed stents.

CONCLUSION

Primary stenting of aortic coarctation in adolescents and adults results in excellent clinical and angiographic outcomes and sustained hemodynamic benefits at 1 year as evidenced by significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and gradients. Close follow up is required to monitor aneurysm formation.

Late complications in patients after repair of aortic coarctation: implications for management

Survival of patients with aortic coarctation has dramatically improved after surgical repair became available and the number of patients who were operated and reach adulthood is steadily increasing. However, life expectancy is still not as normal as in unaffected peers. Cardiovascular complications are frequent and require indefinite follow-up. Concern falls chiefly in seven categories: recoarctation, aortic aneurysm formation or aortic dissection, coexisting bicuspid aortic valve, endocarditis, premature coronary atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular accidents and systemic hypertension. In this review, these complications, with particular reference to late hypertension, are discussed and strategies for the clinical management of post-coarctectomy patients are described.