E. Coarctation of the aorta – Explanation
This stem shows a late presentation of coarctation of aorta are actually suspected when
patient have refractory hypertension. In this stem, the blood pressure was not
mentioned but he has all the other symptoms one can expect for coarctation of the
aorta.
COARCTATION OF THE AORTA, LATE PRESENTATION
If coarctation of the aorta presents late, the patients are usually asymptomatic and the
diagnosis is usually suspected on examination, prompted often by the presence of a
murmur or hypertension.
Clinical features for late presentation
patient have refractory hypertension. In this stem, the blood pressure was not
mentioned but he has all the other symptoms one can expect for coarctation of the
aorta.
COARCTATION OF THE AORTA, LATE PRESENTATION
If coarctation of the aorta presents late, the patients are usually asymptomatic and the
diagnosis is usually suspected on examination, prompted often by the presence of a
murmur or hypertension.
Clinical features for late presentation
- Headache
- Nosebleeds (usually from high BP)
- BP is high in the arms and low in the legs
- Lower-limb muscle weakness, or cold feet which is due to poor blood supply
- Pulses distal to the obstruction are diminished and delayed, e.g. femoral pulses are
hard to feel, absent foot pulses - Systolic or continuous murmur on auscultation, usually heard on in the left
infraclavicular area and under the left scapula
