Dissecting aneurysm distal to coarctation of the aorta, with long survival

A long survival of coarctation of the aorta with dissecting aneurysm distal to the constriction is presented; the patient lived to age 65 years. This is also the longest documented survival of a patient with a healed dissecting aneurysm of the aorta; the diagnosis was made clinically 25 years prior to autopsy confirmation. Death was due to congestive heart failure but cardiomegaly did not occur until sometime during the final 15 years of life.