Neonatal postductal coarctation of the aorta—Doppler characteristics of aortic and ductal blood flow

Abstract

AbstractDoppler echocardiography revealed a characteristic pattern of flow in four neonates with postductal coarctation of the aorta. There was a continuous left-to-right shunt at the level of the patent arterial duct with simultaneous measurement of a large gradient across the site of coarctation with a pandiastolic gradient and prolonged pressure half-time. Infusions of prostaglandin produced no hemodynamic improvement, and urgent surgical correction was performed.