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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2006;30:910-916
© 2006 Elsevier Science NL

Surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta: up to 40 years of follow-up

^a Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
^b Department of Cardiology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
^c Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Received 13 July 2006; received in revised form 1 September 2006; accepted 17 September 2006.

^_* Corresponding author. Address: Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery and Institute of Clinical Medicine, Skejby Sygehus, Aarhus University Hospital, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Tel.: +45 8949 5484; fax: +45 8949 6016. (Email: Vibeke.hjortdal{at}dadlnet.dk).

Objective: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) was previously considered cured after surgical repair. Evidence for excess mortality and late morbidity has later accumulated, although studies with long-term follow-up remain sparse. The aim was to identify patients operated for CoA at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark between 1965 and 1985 and to assess surgical and late mortality and cardiovascular morbidity in this cohort and possible predictors for an adverse outcome. Methods: Two hundred and twenty nine patients were identified. Baseline characteristics and morbidity and mortality data were obtained from medical records, registries and databases and analysed by Kaplan–Meier graphs and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Results: There were 14 (6%) surgical deaths. The survival in patients who were alive 30 days postoperatively was 95% 10 years after surgery, and 91%, 83% and 69% after 20, 30 and 40 years, respectively. The mortality rate ratio for all long-term survivors compared with an age- and sex-matched reference group was 4.3 (2.9–6.4). In those with no cardiovascular comorbidity at the time of repair, it was 3.4 (1.8–6.4). The causes of late deaths were cardiovascular in 63%. CoA repair in the early decade, age below 1 year at repair and high level of comorbidity were predictors for late mortality. Twenty five percent of current survivors were on antihypertensive medication and further cardiovascular morbidity had occurred in 46 (26%), including cardiovascular surgery and catheter interventions in 35 (19%). Freedom from death, reintervention and cardiovascular complications other than hypertension was 60% 30 years after surgery in the entire study population. Conclusions: Repaired CoA is associated with excess cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and often in need of reintervention. These patients, therefore, need careful follow-up.

Key Words: Aorta • Coarctation • Congenital heart disease (CHD) • Surgery • Outcomes

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				K. Vijayalakshmi, A. Griffiths, A. Hasan, and J. O'Sullivan Late hazards after repair of coarctation of the aorta BMJ, April 5, 2008; 336(7647): 772 - 773. [Full Text] [PDF]