Coarctation of the aorta, known yet can be missed

Asim Al Balushi, Sunny Zacharias, Khalfan Al Senaidi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The clinical presentation of coarctation of aorta (CoA) is well known; however, it is the most common congenital heart disease in the newborn period to be missed, with significant mortality and morbidity associated with missing the diagnosis. We report a 20-day-old newborn boy who presented with congestive heart failure and weak femoral pulses. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema and electrocardiography (ECG) showed extreme right axis deviation and absent left ventricular forces in the left precordial leads. Based on these, clinical suspicion of coarctation of aorta was made and confirmed by echocardiography. After initial stabilization with prostaglandin E2 infusion, child underwent urgent coarctation of aorta repair with uneventful post-operative course. High index of suspicion for coarctation of aorta in a newborn with such presentation is required and urgent referral to Pediatric Cardiology and cardiac surgery center is mandatory to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with missing the diagnosis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)204-206
Number of pages3
JournalOman Medical Journal
Volume28
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Coarctation of the aorta
  • Congenital heart disease

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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