Abstract
A young woman at operation was found to have a coarctation of the aorta just above the diaphragm. She died 5 hrs. after surgery was performed. Preoperatively the blood pressure in the left arm was consistently found to be between 180/140 and 200/140, as compared with readings of 120/100 and 130/100 in the right arm. Blood pressure and pulsations were not obtainable in the lower extremities. Pulsations were not noticed over the intercostal arteries, and there were only minimal erosions of the ribs. The aortic knob was present but not prominent.
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