Coarctation of the aorta

Overview

In coarctation of the aorta, the large artery that pumps red (oxygenated) blood from your heart to the rest of your body is constricted or narrowed. Coarctation of the aorta occurs more commonly in men and boys and is a fairly common heart defect that you're born with (congenital). This congenital cardiovascular defect reduces blood flow and can be mild to severe. Mild cases may be diagnosed in early adulthood.

More than half of those diagnosed with aortic coarctation also have a bicuspid aortic valve. You may have other heart defects as well, such as mitral valve abnormalities, ventricular septal defects (VSDs), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction or a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience. Doctors in Mayo Clinic's Center for Congenital Heart Disease care for adults and children who have every type of congenital heart defect.
• Expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors helped develop a way to correct coarctation of the aorta in the 1940s and have treated more than 1,000 children and adults who have this condition.
• Team approach. Integrated teams of doctors include cardiologists (doctors trained in heart disease), cardiovascular surgeons, anesthesiologists and other specialists who work closely to care for patients who have congenital heart disease.

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At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery.

Read more about coarctation of the aorta.

Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.