A Pregnant Patient with Native Aortic Coarctation and Aneurysm

Abstract

Uncorrected coarctation is rare and is known to cause hypertension in adult patients. Retrospective observational studies showed hypertension and occasionally aortic dissection to be the principal risks during pregnancy after correction of aortic coarctation. We present a case of a patient with known hypertension, who presented at 32 weeks of gestation. A saccular aortic aneurysm of 4.5 × 8.8 cm was found by echocardiogram and confirmed with a chest X-ray. She delivered a healthy girl by caesarean section. After delivery a CT-angiography was performed showing a stable situation. Two months postpartum she was successfully operated. We present images of echocardiography, X-ray, CT and the surgical procedure. We discus the literature on native coarctation and the management choices in this difficult case.