IN INFANCY coarctation of the aorta is a common cause of cardiac failure.1 Management of the associated decompensation of the heart is unusually difficult, and the prognosis is poor. Surgical correction of this anomaly should be done when it is evident that medical treatment is unsatisfactory. The following report describes such a case in a 16-month-old child with a two and one-half year follow-up after successful surgical repair. REPORT OF A CASE D. M., a white girl, was born at term at another hospital on Nov. 6, 1948. She weighed 7 1b. 11 oz. (3.5 kg.) and was apparently normal. At 14 days of age she was readmitted to the same hospital seriously ill. She had seemed well until the day before when a cold developed. The next morning she refused her formula and that afternoon became dyspneic. Examination revealed a pale grayish cyanotic baby with rapid respiration and