Which procedure is a common correction for coarctation of the aorta?

Which procedure is a common correction for coarctation of the aorta?

• A. Balloon angioplasty
• B. Pacemaker
• C. Valve replacement
• D. CABG

Answer: (A)

Relieving the narrowed segment of the aorta is the central goal in correcting coarctation. Balloon angioplasty fits this by expanding the narrowed area via a catheter-delivered balloon, which reduces the obstruction and lowers the high blood pressure proximal to the constriction. It’s commonly used because it can be performed without open surgery and can be effective, sometimes with a stent to prevent recoil, especially in adults. Pacemakers don’t address a structural narrowing; they manage heart rhythm issues, so they aren’t a correction for coarctation. Valve replacement targets valvular disease, not the narrowed aorta. Coronary bypass grafting helps when there are blocked coronary arteries, not when the problem is aortic coarctation.

Relieving the narrowed segment of the aorta is the central goal in correcting coarctation. Balloon angioplasty fits this by expanding the narrowed area via a catheter-delivered balloon, which reduces the obstruction and lowers the high blood pressure proximal to the constriction. It’s commonly used because it can be performed without open surgery and can be effective, sometimes with a stent to prevent recoil, especially in adults.

Pacemakers don’t address a structural narrowing; they manage heart rhythm issues, so they aren’t a correction for coarctation. Valve replacement targets valvular disease, not the narrowed aorta. Coronary bypass grafting helps when there are blocked coronary arteries, not when the problem is aortic coarctation.