[Isthmic coarctation of the aorta: characteristics and results of surgical treatment in subjects surgically-treated after 35 years of age].

From 1965 to 1981, 27 patients over 35 years of age were operated for isthmic coarctation of the aorta. Surgery consisted of resection and direct suture in 16 cases, implantation of a Dacron prosthesis in 7 cases, isthmoplasty in 1 case, aortotomy-graft in 1 case, insertion of a Dacron tube between the left subclavian artery and the descending thoracic aorta in 1 case; finally, one patient presented with a rare form of coarctation in a double aortic arch and was treated by a bypass from the brachiocephalic trunk to the descending thoracic aorta. Ten patients had associated pathology. This was treated at the same time in 4 cases: closed heart mitral commissurotomy, cardiac plexectomy, section-suture of patent ductus arteriosus, and a resection of aneurysms of four intercostal arteries. A Bjork aortic valve prosthesis had been inserted nine months previously in a women with calcific aortic stenosis. There were 2 deaths (7,4%) in the immediate postoperative woman with calcific aortic stenosis. There were 2 deaths (7,4%) in the immediate postoperative period (one acute pulmonary oedema, one pulmonary embolism). There has been no operative mortality in the last 10 years. Twenty-three of the 25 survivors have been followed-up for an average period of 91,5 months (range 1 to 18 years). Two patients died of cardiovascular causes. Analysis of these results show: that the mortality rate is not prohibitive compared to that of the natural history of the condition (the average survival rate of unoperated patients is 35 years), good secondary results despite frequent technical difficulties, the possibility of residual hypertension (especially in older patients) which responds well to drug therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)