Impact of surgical strategy and postrepair transverse aortic arch size on late hypertension after coarctation repair during infancy.

Background: Late hypertension (HTN) after coarctation of the aorta (CoA) repair contributes to higher morbidity and mortality. An association between transverse aortic arch (TAA) hypoplasia and HTN has been found, but its relationship with surgical strategy is unclear. We studied the association between late HTN and initial surgical strategy pertaining to the TAA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent surgical repair of CoA during infancy with at least 10 years of follow-up, excluding those with atypical coarctation, major associated heart defects, and residual isthmic narrowing. TAA diameter z-score immediately postrepair was measured as a marker of surgical strategy. Systemic HTN at latest follow-up was assessed using standard criteria.

Results: A total of 130 patients underwent surgical repair of CoA (76% via thoracotomy, 24% via sternotomy) with resection and end-to-end anastomosis (62%), extended end-to-end anastomosis (30%), subclavian flap (5%), or arch repair with patch (4%), at a median age of 14 days (interquartile range [IQR], 7-62 days). The median postrepair TAA diameter z-score was -2.04 (IQR, -2.69 to 1.24). At a mean follow-up of 17.3 years, 43 of the 130 patients (33%) developed HTN. After controlling for age at repair, sex, and presence of a genetic syndrome, HTN was not associated with immediate postrepair TAA diameter z-score (P = .41), type of surgical incision (P = .99), or type of surgical repair (P = .66).

Conclusions: In patients undergoing surgical repair of CoA during infancy, late HTN was not associated with immediate postrepair TAA size or surgical strategy pertaining to the TAA. These results suggest that factors other than surgical strategy, such as differential growth of the TAA during childhood, may be important.