title: Coarctation of the aorta: lifelong surveillance is mandatory following surgical repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study was to review the long-term outcomes of patients undergoing surgical repair of aortic coarctation.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Surgical repair of aortic coarctation has been performed at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, for over 60 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1946 and 2005, 819 patients with isolated coarctation of the aorta underwent primary operative repair. Medical records were reviewed and questionnaires mailed to the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age at repair was 17.2 ± 13.6 years. The majority (83%) had pre-operative hypertension. Operations included simple and extended end-to-end anastomosis (n = 632), patch angioplasty (n = 72), interposition grafting (n = 49), bypass grafting (n = 30), and subclavian flap or "other" (n = 35). Overall early mortality (<30 days) was 2.4%. In the previous 30 years (n = 225), there were no operative deaths. Mean follow-up was 17.4 ± 13.9 years, with a maximum of 59.3 years. Actuarial survival rates were 93.3%, 86.4%, and 73.5% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. When compared to an age- and sex-matched population, long-term survival was decreased (p < 0.001). Older age at repair (>20 yrs) and pre-operative hypertension were associated with decreased survival (p < 0.001). Patients age <9 years age at repair had significantly less hypertension at 5 to 15 years of follow-up (p < 0.001). Rates of freedom from re-intervention on the descending aorta were 96.7%, 92.2%, and 89.4% at 10, 20, and 30 years, respectively. Younger age at time of repair (p < 0.001) and an end-to-end anastomosis technique (p < 0.001) were independently associated with lower rates of re-intervention on the descending aorta.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary repair of isolated coarctation of the aorta was performed with a low rate of mortality. However, long-term survival was reduced compared with that in an age- and sex-matched population, and many patients required further reoperation. These findings emphasize that patients with aortic coarctation need early recognition and intervention, as well as lifelong informed follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Morgan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Harold M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Burkhart
authors.forename: Heidi M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dearani
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cetta
authors.forename: Zhuo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Carole A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Warnes
authors.forename: Hartzell V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Schaff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D008499:Medical Records; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: ASD; NYHA; New York Heart Association; PFO; aortic coarctation; atrial septal defect; cardiac surgery; hypertension; patent foramen ovale