Aneurysms of the Thoracic Aorta Complicating Coarctation

Abstract

Coarctation of the aorta may become complicated by aortic aneurysms involving either the proximal or distal compartment of the vessel. Such aneurysms principally are consequences either of hypertension or of bacterial infection. The aneurysms in either compartment may be of the classical dissecting or saccular types. Saccular aneurysm may result from infection or laceration of the aorta without intramedial dissection of blood. In the ascending aorta, an additional basis for aneurysm is aortic stenosis, the latter either being congenital, or more commonly, acquired calcific in a congenital bicuspid valve.