Follow-up after correction of aortic coarctation under the age of three years

Patients operated upon for coarctation of the aorta below the age of 3 years need lifelong follow-up for detection of restenosis, hypertension and valvular disease. DSA, MRI and bicycle exercise testing are useful in detecting restenosis. Longer follow-up will be needed to analyse whether extended end-to-end anastamoses with polypropylene sutures are better than classic anastomoses with silk sutures, in view of incidence of recoarctation. Patients operated upon before the age of 6 months are less likely to develop hypertension than patients operated upon at an older age.