Coarctation Of The Aorta

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) refers to the narrower portion of the aorta, the prime artery of the heart. The term ‘coarctation’ indicates ‘narrowing’. The narrowing down of the aorta makes it difficult for blood from the heart to pass through the artery. People with genetic disorders are more prone to developing CoA, while the latter can also be caused due to birth defects and can be detected in adults below 40 and in children. Important tests for diagnosing CoA include Echocardiography (also used after the surgery), Chest X-Ray, Heart CT and MRI (for older children),and Cardiac catheterization and aortography.