Coarctation of the Aorta

Diagnosis

During a physical exam, a physician may notice high blood pressure in the arms and low blood pressure in the legs, with a significant blood pressure difference between the arms and legs. The femoral (groin) pulse is weaker than the carotid (neck) pulse, or the femoral pulse may be totally absent. In addition, listening to the heart with a stethoscope reveals a characteristic heart murmur.

Coarctation of the aorta can be confirmed by:

• echocardiogram — a procedure that evaluates the structure and function of the heart by using sound waves recorded on an electronic sensor that produce a moving picture of the heart. It can show the pattern of blood flow through the aorta and determine how large the opening is, as well as how much blood is passing through it.
• electrocardiogram — a test that records the electrical activity of the heart, shows abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias), and detects heart muscle stress.
• cardiac catheterization — a procedure that gives highly detailed information about the structures inside the heart. A small, thin, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into a blood vessel in the groin, and guided inside the heart. Blood pressure and oxygen levels are measured in the four chambers of the heart, as well as the pulmonary (lung) artery and aorta. Contrast dye is injected to more clearly visualize the structures inside the heart.
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) — an imaging technology that uses magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of organs and structures within the body.
• computed tomography (CT scan) — a computer translates information from X-rays into images of thin sections (slices) of the heart.