Aortic Coarctation

Aortic Coarctation

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Many aortic coarcations, especially mild conditions, may not produce symptoms until later in life. If a baby doesn't experience severe symptoms at birth, aortic coarctation may go unnoticed. Your childs doctor may suspect a problem if he or she hears a distinctive murmur in your childs heart or if your child has high blood pressure in the arms and low pressure in the legs.

Babies born with aortic coarctation often have other heart abnormalities, such as deformed aortic valves, patent ductus arteriosus or ventricular septal defect. Some conditions are so severe at birth that they require immediate treatment.

Symptoms of aortic coarctation may differ for each child. The following are the most common symptoms:

• Elevated blood pressure
• Feeding problems
• Heavy or rapid breathing
• Irritability
• Pale skin
• Poor weight gain
• Sweating

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007