| Abstract: | During an 8-year period, 53 infants less than six months of life underwent repair of coarctation of the aorta (CoA). Preoperatively 58 percent of patients received intensive circulatory and/or respiratory care. The diagnosis was established by echocardiography and counter current aortography via a radial artery in the majority of recent cases and the surgical relief of CoA was effected within 24 hours of the diagnosis. The last 51 patients were managed under the policy of simple repair of the CoA in patients with significant VSD (Group II), with the addition of pulmonary artery banding for patients with complex cardiac lesions with VSD (Group III) or for patients with incremental risk factors in Group II such as prematurity of body weight of less than 1500 gm, other organ anomalies requiring major operation in neonate, pulmonary complications or severe malnutrition. There was no intraoperative death, one (2%) postoperative and five (10%) late deaths among the lost 51 patients. Only one (2%) showed sign of recurrence among 46 patients followed for 16-112 (mean 47) months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) |
