Aortic coarctation echocardiography


 * Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Priyamvada Singh, M.B.B.S.[mailto:psingh@perfuse.org], ; Assistant Editor(s)-In-Chief: Kristin Feeney, B.S.[mailto:kfeeney@perfuse.org]

Overview
Echocardiography is an useful diagnostic tool for coarctation of aorta. The 2 D echocardiography helps in evaluation of the aortic arch to assess the transverse aortic arch, isthmus, severity of coarctation, and other associated cardiac abnormalities.Doppler echocardiography helps to decide the gradient across the coarctation and helps in taking decisions regarding treatment.

Echocardiography

 * 2 D echocardiography helps in evaluation of the aortic arch to assess the transverse aortic arch, isthmus, and severity of coarctation.
 * Doppler echocardiography helps to decide the gradient across the coarctation and helps in taking decisions regarding treatment.
 * Useful in determining associated abnormalities.
 * Confirmation by cardiac catheterization is unnecessary. Only done when the diagnosis is unclear, which is rare. It is mandatory in the infant to determine preoperative anatomy.

Doppler echocardiography is used to measure the gradient at the site of coarctation and to identify the pattern of diastolic runoff typically seen in patients with severe obstruction.