Severe tracheo-bronchial compression caused by a circumflex aorta. Apropos of 3 cases treated by aortic uncrossing
Bruniaux, J.; Villain, E.; Sidi, D.; Almange, C.; Kachaner, J.; Lecronier, G.; Horon, A.; Bobin, S.; Planché, C.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 77(5): 557-563
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 6428353 Document Number: 229454
The cases of three children with an encircling right aortic arch and left sided descending aorta illustrate the fact that this rare abnormality may cause severe compression of the tracheo-bronchial axis. A ventricular septal defect was associated to the abnormal vascular arch in all three cases. The compressive structure was the aorta and these children could only be extubated after surgical uncrossing . Before diagnosing tracheomalacia in a child operated for an abnormal vascular arch, residual compression must be excluded by tracheo-bronchial fibroscopy.