Surgical management of coarctation of the aorta and associated intracardiac defect

Abstract

To study the efficiency of surgical treatment on coarctation of the aorta and associated with heart defect. From 1994 to 2001, 45 patients with aortic coarctation and associated with heart defect underwent surgical repair. They were divided into two groups: single-stage repair group (26 cases) and two-stage repair group (19 cases). There was mild or severe pulmonary hypertension in 23 cases (with mean pulmonary artery pressure being 56 mm Hg). There were two incisions used in first-stage group (single midline incision in 21 cases and left-side combined midline incision in 5 cases). The mean course for the second operation was 105 days in second-stage group. Two patients died in each group. Twenty-four patients had not blood pressure difference between arm and leg after operation. The mean systolic blood pressure difference was less than 10 mmHg in 10 patients. Mean period of follow-up was 28.6 months. No patients died and had re-coarctation. The operative results showed no difference between single-stage and two-stage repair in surgical correction of aortic coarctation associated intracardiac defect. The left-side combined midline incision in single-stage operation was an effective and safe technique.