Coarctation of the aorta. Follow-up of 218 patients operated on after 13 years of age.

Twohundred and eighteen patients aged 13 years or more at operation for coarctation of the aorta were selected for a long-term postoperative follow-up study. The mean age of operation was 25,3 years, range 13 to 62 years, and the mean follow-up period was 13 years, range 2 to 28 years. The surgical mortality rate was 1.4%, all 3 patients being in their fourth decade. There were 35 late deaths (16,3%), 26 having cardiovascular disease as the causation; 3 patients developed a dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta, and 11 died suddenly of unknown cause. Persisting hypertension was found in approximately one third of the patients. A highly significant correlation was demonstrated between the systolic blood pressures before and after surgery. Aortic valve disease occurred in 31 patients (14,2%). Coarctation of the aorta should be operated on in childhood, and a close postoperative long-term follow-up in all patients is recommended.