2Ege Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, İzmir, Türkiye
3Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Ege University Medical Faculty, İzmir
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the outcome and the systolic blood pressure changes after surgical treatment of aortic coarctation in adults. Methods: Between February 1995 and January 2001, 12 adult patients with a mean age of 29±10 years, underwent repair of aortic coarctation in our clinic. The diagnostic and operative data of these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up was complete in all hospital survivors. Results: The mean systolic blood pressure of 8 hypertensive patients decreased from 155±7 mmHg to 115±9 mmHg after surgical intervention. One patient with a dilated cardiomyopathy died one day after the operation due to an intractable ventricular fibrillation (mortality 8.3%). Four patients had been operated for coexisting cardiovascular pathologies during a mean follow-up period of 32±26 months. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of aortic coarctation in adults can be safely performed with an acceptable mortality and morbidity, both resulting from coexisting cardiovascular disorders in our patient group. The systolic blood pressure may decrease significantly after the operation.