Aortic coarctation pathophysiology

https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OqTJwZkRL4%7C350}}

Aortic coarctation Microchapters
Home
Patient Information
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Causes
Differentiating Aortic Coarctation from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Electrocardiogram
Chest X-Ray
CT
MRI
Angiography
Echocardiography
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy
Future or Investigational Therapies
Case Studies
Case #1
Aortic coarctation pathophysiology On the Web
Most recent articles
Most cited articles
Review articles
CME Programs
Powerpoint slides
Images
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Aortic coarctation pathophysiology All Images X-rays Echo & Ultrasound CT Images MRI
Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse
NICE Guidance
FDA on Aortic coarctation pathophysiology
CDC on Aortic coarctation pathophysiology
Aortic coarctation pathophysiology in the news
Blogs on Aortic coarctation pathophysiology
Directions to Hospitals Treating Aortic coarctation
Risk calculators and risk factors for Aortic coarctation pathophysiology

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S.[2], Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S.[4]

Overview

An aortic coarctation results from both, congenital and acquired means. Factors directly influencing the pathophysiology include defect location and sites of secondary dilation.

Pathophysiology

• 
  Coarctation of the descending aorta.
• 
  Schematic drawing of alternative locations of a coarctation of the aorta, relative to the ductus arteriosus. A: ductal coarctation, B: preductal coarctation, C: postductal coarctation. 1: Aorta ascendens, 2: Arteria pulmonalis, 3: Ductus arteriosus, 4: Aorta descendens, 5: Trunchus brachiocephalicus, 6: Arteria carotis communis sinister, 7: Arteria subclavia sinister

Coarctation of the aorta can be:

• Congenital coarctation resulting from an infolding of the aortic media that incorportaes ductal tissue, forming a ridge that eccentrically narrows the lumen of the vessel. Subsequent intimal proliferation on the ridge leads to progressive narrowing of the vessel lumen. There is a dilatation before and after the narrowing, giving the aorta an hourglass appearance. The exact etiology of the aortic abnormality remains unclear but likely involves a defect in the vascular wall of the aorta due to reduced antegrade intrauterine blood flow or to constriction of ductal tissue extending into the thoracic aorta.
• Acquired coarctation occurring in systemic arteritides such as Takayasu arteritis. Additionally it may occur in rare cases of severe atherosclerosis.

Defect Location

• 95% of the lesions are located distal to the left subclavian artery and proximal to the ductus arteriosus (preductal coarctation) or just at or distal to the ductus (postductal coarctation).
• 5% of coarctations are located proximal to the left subclavian artery, or rarely in the abdominal aorta.
• In some cases, coarctation presents as a long segment or a tubular hypoplasia.
• The stenosis is caused by an infolding of the left posterolateral aspect of the aortic wall resulting in an eccentric narrowing.

Sites of Secondary Dilation

• Aorta proximal to the coarct
• Aorta distal to the coarctation
• Left subclavian artery
• The narrowing progresses throughout life, and extensive collaterals develop from the subclavian (predominantly) and axillary arteries through:

1. Internal mammary artery
2. Scapular artery
3. Intercostal arteries
4. Epigastric arteries
5. Anterior spinal arteries

Genetics

• Aortic coarctation, like many congenital heart diseases, is more common in patients with other genetic conditions.
• As many as 10-25% of patients with Turner syndrome have an accompanying coarctation of the aorta.

Gross Pathology

Images courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

• 
  AORTA: Coarctation, Adult: Gross, fixed tissue, an excellent illustration of postductal coarctation
• 
  AORTA: Coarctation: Gross, hypoplastic aortic arch and infantile coarctation well demonstrated.
• 
  Localized Coarctation of the aorta.

Associated Conditions

• It is commonly associated with bicuspid aortic valve.
• There is 5 fold increase in the intracranial aneurysm in patient with coarctation.

Videos

{{#ev:youtube|SiNJfvK_qeI}}

References