Between 1973 and 1987, 70 consecutive infants under-went repair of coarctation of the aorta. Age at operation was 80.0 +/- 77 days (mean +/- standard deviation); mean weight was 3.0 +/- 0.5 kg. Isolated coarctation was present in 25 patients (group 1); in 19 patients coarctation existed in association with ventricular septal defect (group 2); and in 26 patients coarctation was associated with major intracardiac defects (group 3). Subclavian flap angioplasty was performed in 19 patients and resection and end-to-end anastomosis in 51 patients. Hospital mortality was not significantly different between subclavian flap angioplasty (11%) and resection and end-to-end anastomosis (24%). Freedom from reintervention for recoarctation after 5 years was 87% in the subclavian flap angioplasty group and 95% in the group having resection and end-to-end anastomosis. Actuarial survival at 5 years was 100% for group 1, 73% for group 2, and 28% for group 3. In the subclavian flap angioplasty group, we observed detrimental effects of the sacrifice of the left subclavian artery: 1 patient had a 2.5-cm shortening of the left upper arm, and 5 others complained of claudication in the left upper limb during strenuous exercise. As no major advantage in terms of mortality and recoarctation to either technique of coarctation repair was found, and as subclavian flap angioplasty carries the possible disadvantage of late contracture of isthmic ductal tissue and possible detrimental effects on the left upper limb, resection and end-to-end anastomosis is recommended.