Pulmonary embolism revealing coarctation of the aorta complicated by aneurysm in a 58-year-old patient: a case report

Coarctation of the aorta (CAo) is defined as a narrowing of the thoracic aorta, usually located at the aortic arch and generally discovered in childhood. We report a case of incidental finding of coarctation of the aorta in a patient presenting with pulmonary embolism. The Burkinabe patient was 58 years old and had been suffering from irregular hypertension for 10 years. She was admitted with right basithoracic pain of abrupt onset, moderate intensity and no radiation. Clinical examination on admission revealed grade III arterial hypertension and an athletic thorax. Paraclinical examinations led to the diagnosis of a relative hypertensive emergency associated with pulmonary embolism on a coarctation site. The patient was treated with calcium channel blockers (Nicardipine) and alpha blockers (Eupressyl) by electric syringe pump, and curative low-molecular-weight heparin (Enoxaparin). After one week, the patient's blood pressure returned to normal, and her chest pain and dyspnea disappeared. She was discharged without curing her coarctation, due to insufficient technical resources. Coarctation of the aorta is an uncommon pathology in children. This case study shows that coarctation of the aorta can progress insidiously into adulthood. Received: April 3rd, 2024 Accepted: October 13th, 2024 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/aamed.v18i1.15