Coarctation of the Aorta

Posted by afunt0708 @afunt0708, Apr 3, 2023

Hello! Any other parents here who had repair for their child’s coarctation of the arota at Mayo Clinic?
My son is 3 and just recently diagnosed and I have so many questions.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Hello @afunt0708
My kids do not have CoA but I do. I had mine repaired at Mayo Rochester 2019 at 42 years old. Dr Pochettino did my surgery, and I could not have been in better hands. I had half of my aortic arch and most descending aorta replaced. They did it via thoracotomy. I was in the hospital 9 days and flew back to Florida on the 11th day post op. It was by no means an easy surgery- but in my experience (as an adult) there was no better place to be but Mayo. I would imagine this is a very different scenario for a child and there are many excellent pediatric heart centers- I cannot imagine how scary this must be for you! I would get second and third opinions if possible at big university centers and find the team you are most comfortable with. But after my experience I would not hesitate to send my child there, but again as an adult it is a very different experience and surgery so I don’t know if I am much help. Best wishes, thoughts and prayers your way!

Jeane

REPLY

@afunt0708, welcome. I can imagine you have loads of questions. I hope you saw the helpful response from @jeanern01. I'm also tagging @judytru to join this discussion.

Will your son be treated at Mayo Clinic? Which location?

REPLY
@jeanern01

Hello @afunt0708
My kids do not have CoA but I do. I had mine repaired at Mayo Rochester 2019 at 42 years old. Dr Pochettino did my surgery, and I could not have been in better hands. I had half of my aortic arch and most descending aorta replaced. They did it via thoracotomy. I was in the hospital 9 days and flew back to Florida on the 11th day post op. It was by no means an easy surgery- but in my experience (as an adult) there was no better place to be but Mayo. I would imagine this is a very different scenario for a child and there are many excellent pediatric heart centers- I cannot imagine how scary this must be for you! I would get second and third opinions if possible at big university centers and find the team you are most comfortable with. But after my experience I would not hesitate to send my child there, but again as an adult it is a very different experience and surgery so I don’t know if I am much help. Best wishes, thoughts and prayers your way!

Jeane

Jump to this post

Hello- my 47 year old husband was just diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta. We went to Mayo Rochester for chest pain evaluation and saw a cardiologist while there this past weekend. We are awaiting a call from congenital heart to get an appointment. Curious to learn more about the process other adults have gone through after being diagnosed. Thank you!

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.