Screening for ventriculo-aortic functional disturbances in patients with apparently successful repaired coarctation of aorta.

Patients with apparently successful repair for coarctation of aorta have reduced life expectancy irrespective of the occurrence of recoarctation, biscupid aortic valvular complications or systemic hypertension. The increasingly recognized ventriculo-aortic functional disturbances (subendocardial ischemia and central aortic stiffness) that persist after operation may contribute to the known significant cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging allow earlier identification of these high-risk features in patients may thus guide towards optimum therapy.