Coarctation of the Aorta
Alternate Names : Aortic Coarctation, CoA
How is the condition diagnosed?
The diagnosis of coarctation of the aorta may be suspected
from the medical history and physical exam. A heart tracing, called an
EKG,
and a chest X-ray
are commonly done and may be abnormal. Imaging tests of the heart,
such as a test that uses sound waves called echocardiography,
can confirm the diagnosis. A chest MRI
and chest CT scan
can also show the defect.
An X-ray procedure called cardiac catheterization
may be done in some cases. In this test, a thin tube is inserted through the
skin and into an artery, usually in the groin. The tube is then advanced along
the artery and up into the heart. A contrast agent can then be squirted through
the tube and into the blood. X-ray pictures of the contrast agent can be taken
as it flows through the heart and aorta.
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