Question

Discuss management and long term follow-up of:
An adult with coarctation of aorta. [3]

Hint:

For adults, early diagnosis and intervention are essential to prevent complications such as heart failure and stroke.

Answer 1

Step 1: Management of Coarctation in Adults:
1. Surgical or Endovascular Repair: The treatment of choice is either surgical resection or endovascular stenting. Stenting is typically preferred in adults due to its minimally invasive nature.
2. Blood Pressure Control: Hypertension is a common issue, and it should be controlled using antihypertensive medications, especially beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or calcium channel blockers.
3. Cardiac Monitoring: Regular follow-up with echocardiograms and MRI is important to assess for complications such as re-coarctation or aneurysm formation.
Step 2: Long-Term Follow-Up:
1. Blood Pressure Management: Regular blood pressure monitoring is required to detect and manage hypertension post-surgery.
2. Cardiovascular Health: Periodic check-ups to evaluate heart function and the risk of other complications are crucial for long-term health.