Multislice computed tomography and X-ray correlation of the classical secondary vascular adaptive features associated with aortic coarctation

Coarctation of the aorta is a discrete narrowing of the vessel which most commonly presents juxtaductal, distal to origin of the left subclavian artery. Its etiology is generally congenital and the resulting pressure overload can result in several adaptive vascular features. Here we present a case of a Hispanic male patient who presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to malignant hypertension which was the result of a long standing undiagnosed coarctation. Due to the long standing nature of this patients congenital defect he had a striking example of many of the vascular adaptations associated with coarctation. Ultimately, a successful open surgical repair was undertaken which restored normal perfusion to the lower extremities and normalized upper extremity blood pressure.