Elective surgical repair of aortic coarctation in black African adults: Report of 2 cases

Abstract

Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital heart defect characterized by severe narrowing of the aorta, mostly at the isthmic and proximal  descending aorta segments. It accounts for approximately 5% to 7% of all congenital heart defects. The diagnosis of CoA is often made  early in childhood although it can present in adulthood as an undiagnosed native lesion, especially in settings with limited access to  cardiovascular care, such as developing countries. Adult patients with untreated CoA might present with complex clinical and anatomopathological features that can make their management challenging. We report the cases of two young Black African adults who  underwent surgical correction of isolated CoA.