Aim: This article presents the early and late surgical results of 401 newborns and infants among the 569 children with coarctation of aorta who were operated on between 1975-2001.
Results: The early results were dependent on the anatomy of the aortic arch, the age and weight of babies and the types of the associated heart defects. The mortality rate was reduced from 15% (isolated coarctation 7.3%, complex coarctation 34%) to 3.0% (isolated 1.9%, complex 4.9%). 77.3% of 320 infants (follow-up 1 month-26 years, mean: 17 years) were free from re-operation or intervention. The (extended) end-to-end anastomosis and the subclavian flap method produced the best surgical results.
Conclusions: They suggest the extended end to end anastomosis technique for repair of the aortic arch together with the reconstruction of the associated heart defects in the youngest age if it is possible. The balloon angioplasty of the recoarctation of the aorta produces a good result.