Coarctation of the Aorta

Coarctation of Aorta, or aortic coarctation, is a congenital defect that occurs when the aorta is narrowed. The aorta is the large blood vessel that delivers oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the body’s tissues. When this blood vessel is narrowed, the baby’s heart has to work much harder to pump blood to the body. The extent of the defect ranges from mild to severe narrowness. Some less serious cases are not detected until adulthood.

Causes

Anti-depressant: Maternal use of Wellbutrin, a popular anti-depressant, during pregnancy may more than double a baby’s risk of developing coarctation of the aorta, according to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Clomid: Exposure to the fertility drug Clomid before birth can increase a baby’s risk of developing coarctation of the aorta by 80 percent, according to the National Birth Defects Prevention Studyconducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Treatment

Aortic coarctation can be repaired with one of a few open-heart surgical techniques. There is also a catheter procedure that may be utilized. The doctor inserts a catheter (thin tube) into the artery in the baby’s groin and threads it up to the aorta. From here a balloon is put through the opening of the narrowed aorta. The balloon inflates so blood can pass more easily.

Your Baby’s Rights

If your baby was born with aortic coarctation that may have been caused by exposure to prescription drugs before birth, your family deserves financial compensation. No amount of money will change what happened to your baby. Compensation will help offset the current and future medical costs. It can also provide for the pain and suffering you and your baby have experienced. Filing a claim will also teach the manufacturers of unsafe medications that it is unacceptable to not warn parents of the risks associated with these drugs, including serious birth defects. Your suit may even prevent other families from suffering as yours has, by forcing the pharmaceutical company to change their drug’s label to warn parents of the potential risks.

Contact Us

You may be eligible for compensation to ease the financial burdens associated with your baby’s injury. Contact us today to set up a free consultation. We will listen to your story, answer any questions you may have and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis. This means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.