Medical management of aortic coarctation is feasible & durable in selected patients: a case report & literature review

Abstract

Long-term survival in patients with complete aortic coarctation (AC) without surgical repair has not been well characterized and is rarely documented. We report a case of an 84 year old male with complete aortic coarctation with history of hypertension for more than 40 years. Since the diagnosis was made in early 1950's medical treatment to control hypertension was initiated as patient was deemed high risk for surgical intervention. He has survived to the age of 84 years with minimal medical problems. This report also reviews the few documented cases of prolonged survival in patients with aortic coarctation. This report demonstrates that prolonged survival is possible in patients with documented complete coarctation and awareness of this report may influence the decision to use medical treatment for selected elderly patients with high risk of mortality associated with surgical repair.