Pre- and postoperative exercise testing of the child with coarctation of the aorta.

Exercise studies in patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) are reviewed. A brief survey of the natural history of unoperated CoA, the pioneers who reported the first operative repair, and comments on blood pressure measurements are provided. Preoperative and postoperative (postop) exercise studies of patients with CoA are also reviewed. The various etiological factors which may contribute to hypertension found in some post-op CoA patients are discussed.