A rare form of vascular ring in association with transposition of the great arteries: left-sided course of the aortic arch with arteria lusoria and a right-sided persistent Botalli's duct
Ziemer, G.; Luhmer, I.; Kallfelz, H.C.; Oelert, H.
Herz 8(3): 170-174
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-9937 PMID: 6873864 Document Number: 212984
This report describes the successful resection of an asymptomatic vascular ring in a one year-old girl performed at the time of an atrial-switch operation for transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). This particular form of vascular ring, left-sided aortic arch, left descending aorta with retroesophageal segment and right-sided ductus arteriosus with its origin from a right-sided Kommerell's diverticulum, is extremely rare and, apparently, an ipsilateral course of the aortic arch and descending aorta has not been previously described in association with this vascular ring. The peculiarities in this case cannot be explained on the basis of the majority of known literature on classification of vascular rings. Only those classifications describing the retroesophageal segment of the ring and documenting the lateral localization of the descending aorta as an inclusion criterion are capable of accommodating this case. Based on this criterion, similar presentations may also be delineated. An autopsy report of Rheder et al. appears similar to the case at hand but the description did not include the localization of the descending aorta.