Coarctation of the Aorta

Experienced Care for Coarctation of the Aorta (COA)

Coarctation of the aorta (COA) happens when the aorta — the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body — is too narrow. This is usually a congenital (present at birth) heart defect and when the narrowing is mild, your child may not even have symptoms. Sometimes, especially as your child grows, surgery or treatment may be needed.

The pediatric heart care experts in the Nemours Cardiac Center are here to provide your child and

family with top-notch care. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons (specialists in surgical procedures of the chest, including heart and lungs) work together to address your concerns, answer your questions, and provide the latest in proven treatment options for a healthy future.

Learn More About Coarctation of the Aorta

Services We Offer for Coarctation of the Aorta

The pediatric cardiology teams in our Nemours Cardiac Center locations offer expert services to quickly diagnose and effectively treat your child’s coarctation of the aorta. Services vary by your child’s specialist, age, and location, but may include:

Cardiac Diagnostic Testing. State-of-the-art, noninvasive and minimally invasive tests for kids of all ages, including babies still in the womb and newborns.
Cardiology. Your child’s heart specialist who will help with COA diagnosis, ongoing testing and medications if needed.
Cardiac Catheterization. A common procedure for COA repair is called a balloon angioplasty. Your child’s heart surgeon might place a stent (small tube) to keep the aorta open.
Heart Surgery. Sometimes other congenital heart defects or conditions make these advanced procedures the best option for COA repair.

Why Choose Us for Coarctation of the Aorta Repair & Care

Our Nemours Cardiac Center experts have the experience to identify and treat all types of heart problems, and many are named to the Best Doctors in America® list, year after year. In addition to providing diagnosis and treatment, the Nemours Cardiac Center teams participate in ongoing research with other pediatric cardiac institutions. We will guide your child and your family from accurate diagnosis through proven treatment and beyond — and help your child live their life to the fullest.

Regional Coarctation of the Aorta Highlights

Services, programs, facilities and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

We offer care for kids with COA at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.) and select Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations.

The Nemours Cardiac Center located at duPont Hospital for Children is ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Central Florida

We offer care for kids with COA at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando) and select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our renowned pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery team at the Nemours Cardiac Center in Central Florida offers inpatient, critical and surgical care at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.

Northwest Florida

We offer care for kids with COA at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Pensacola and our hospital affiliate, West Florida Healthcare, with outpatient and follow-up appointments also available at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our Nemours Cardiac Center in Pensacola is home to one of the few accredited pediatric transthoracic and fetal echocardiography labs in Florida and, if needed, can facilitate the transfer of extremely ill children between our Nemours Cardiac Center locations (e.g., to Nemours Children’s Hospital).