Presentation of coarctation
| • Fetus |
| ‐ ventricular disproportion |
| ‐ great vessel disproportion |
| ‐ associated with other congenital heart disease |
| ‐ nuchal thickening/chromosomal abnormality (Turner’s syndrome) |
| • Neonate |
| ‐ collapse, acidosis |
| ‐ heart failure |
| ‐ systolic/continuous murmur conducted to back |
| ‐ weak or absent femoral pulses |
| ‐ upper limb hypertension |
| • Infant |
| ‐ heart failure |
| ‐ systolic/continuous murmur conducted to back |
| ‐ weak or absent femoral pulses |
| ‐ upper limb hypertension |
| ‐ cardiomyopathy rarely |
| • Child, adolescent, and adult |
| ‐ systolic/continuous murmur conducted to back (collateral murmurs over scapula rarely) |
| ‐ weak or absent femoral pulses (radio-femoral delay in older patients) |
| ‐ upper limb hypertension |
| ‐ exercise intolerance |
| ‐ leg fatigue and claudication |
| ‐ cold feet |
| ‐ cardiac arrest (left ventricular hypertrophy and arrhythmia) |
| ‐ hypertensive retinopathy |
| ‐ intracranial bleed |
| ‐ aortic dissection/rupture |
| ‐ infective endocarditis |