This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Vascular ring (aorta)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

A vascular ring is a developmental anomaly of the aortic arch. It occurs in about 0.3% of the population.

Failure of disappearance or development of one or more of the aortic arches results in constriction of the oesophagus and trachea between aberrant vessels.

It may be produced by:

  • an accessory aorta running anterior to the oesophagus and trachea with the 'normal aorta' running posteriorly. Often, the accessory aorta is the site of origin of the left common carotid and subclavian arteries.
  • the right common carotid artery arising directly from the arch of the aorta as its most proximal branch. The right subclavian artery arises from the arch distal to the left subclavian artery on the left side to pass posterior to the trachea and oesophagus across the posterior mediastinum. There is no brachiocephalic trunk.
  • a right-sided aortic arch due to regression of the left fourth branchial arch artery and dorsal aorta

The condition may be silent clinically or present at birth or the first few months of life with stridor and dysphagia. Gradually, these symptoms worsen as their is relatively greater growth of the trachea and oesophagus than vessels. The first anomaly - a double aorta - is more likely to produce symptoms than the abnormal origin of the right subclavian artery.

Diagnosis is by barium swallow.

Treatment is by surgical division of the ring.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.