what is the code for coarctation of aorta course hero

Full Answer

What is the aortic coarctation?

Narrowing of the aorta (aortic coarctation, pronounced ko-ahrk-TAY-shun) forces your heart to pump harder to move blood through the aorta. Coarctation of the aorta is generally present at birth (congenital). Although the condition can affect any part of the aorta, the defect is most often located near a blood vessel called the ductus arteriosus.

What are the symptoms of coarctation of the aorta?

Signs or symptoms of coarctation of the aorta after infancy commonly include: High blood pressure. Headaches. Muscle weakness. Leg cramps or cold feet.

What is sub aortic stenosis?

Sub-aortic stenosis occurs when there is a narrowing of the area below the aortic valve that obstructs blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta. This narrowing may be in the form of a fibrous membrane. Patent ductus arteriosus.

What is the term for a severe hardening of the arteries?

Traumatic injury. Severe hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) Inflamed arteries (Takayasu's arteritis) Coarctation of the aorta usually occurs beyond the blood vessels that branch off to your upper body and before the blood vessels that lead to your lower body.

How many flaps does the aortic valve have?

Bicuspid aortic valve. The aortic valve separates the lower left chamber (left ventricle) of the heart from the aorta. A bicuspid aortic valve has two flaps (cusps) instead of the usual three. Many people with coarctation of the aorta have a bicuspid aortic valve.

How soon after birth can you have aorta coarctation?

Mild coarctation may not be diagnosed until adulthood. Babies with severe coarctation of the aorta may begin having symptoms shortly after birth.

What is the condition called when the heart pumps blood through the aorta?

Coarctation of the aorta is a narrowing, or constriction, in a portion of the aorta. The condition forces the heart to pump harder to get blood through the aorta and on to the rest of the body.

What Causes Coarctation of the Aorta?

Some congenital heart defects may have a genetic link, either occurring due to a defect in a gene, a chromosome abnormality, or environmental exposure, causing heart problems to occur more often in certain families. Most of the time this heart defect occurs sporadically (by chance), with no clear reason for its development.

What causes aorta to narrow?

Coarctation of the aorta causes several problems, including the following: 1 The left ventricle has to work harder to try to move blood through the narrowing in the aorta. Eventually, the left ventricle is no longer able to handle the extra workload, and it fails to pump blood to the body efficiently. 2 Blood pressure is higher above the narrowing, and lower below the narrowing. Older children may have headaches from too much pressure in the vessels in the head, or cramps in the legs or abdomen from too little blood flow in that region. Also, the kidneys may not make enough urine since they require a certain amount of blood flow and a certain blood pressure to perform this task. 3 The walls of the ascending aorta, the aortic arch, or any of the arteries in the head and arms may become weakened by high pressure. Spontaneous tears in any of these arteries can occur, which can cause a stroke or uncontrollable bleeding. 4 There is a higher than average chance of developing an infection in the valves of the heart known as bacterial endocarditis or an infection in the aorta itself known as bacterial endarteritis. Both of these complications are exceedingly rare. 5 The coronary arteries, which supply oxygen-rich (red) blood to the heart muscle, may narrow in response to elevated pressure.

Why do some congenital heart defects occur?

Some congenital heart defects may have a genetic link, either occurring due to a defect in a gene, a chromosome abnormality, or environmental exposure , causing heart problems to occur more often in certain families. Most of the time this heart defect occurs sporadically (by chance), with no clear reason for its development.

Overview

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Symptoms

Causes

Risk Factors

Complications

Prevention