Severely affected infants with coarctation of the aorta may need surgery shortly after birth. Before surgery, these infants may need aggressive treatment in the intensive care unit . This may involve powerful medications and a ventilator , or artificial breathing machine. For those with no symptoms at birth, surgery is often advised later in childhood or in early adulthood when symptoms or heart damage begins. The goal of surgery is to remove or bypass the narrowed part of the aorta.
Surgery carries a risk of bleeding, infections, allergic reactions to anesthesia , and even death.
After recovering from surgery, most people do well. Narrowing in the aorta can recur, especially in children less than 5 years old. In the absence of high blood pressure, most people can resume a normal life after recovery. Long-term monitoring of blood pressure is needed. Other monitoring may be needed if heart damage or other heart defects are present before surgery.