Explanation
•If the coarctation is minimal, diminished femoral pulses may be the only symptom. Classic findings also include hypertension in the upper extremities and hypotension in the lower extremities.
•The aorta narrows, usually distal to the subclavian artery. This causes a large difference in systolic blood pressure between the upper and lower extremities.
•Cyanosis may occur in neonates with severe coarctation combined with a patent ductus arteriosus.
•Poor feeding pattern and exercise intolerance may occur in children, but these are not indicative of aortic coarctation.