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Double aortic arch masquerading as asthma for thirty years.
Serban C Stoica1, Ulf Lockowandt, Richard Coulden
1Papworth Hospital, Cambridge, UK.
Respiration; International Review of Thoracic Diseases
|February 15, 2002
Summary
A rare double-barrelled aorta in a 30-year-old woman was misdiagnosed as asthma. Surgical intervention improved symptoms, leading to a diagnosis of tracheomalacia and recommendations for adult management.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Aortic arch abnormalities are rare in adults and can present with atypical symptoms.
- Misdiagnosis of aortic conditions can lead to delayed treatment and persistent symptoms.
Observation:
- A 30-year-old woman presented with symptoms initially misdiagnosed as asthma.
- The patient had a double-barrelled aorta, a rare congenital anomaly.
- Surgical correction of the aortic anomaly led to partial improvement of airway symptoms.
Findings:
- Persistent airway symptoms post-aortic surgery indicated a concurrent diagnosis of tracheomalacia.
- Tracheomalacia, though common in pediatrics, is a rare cause of persistent airway issues in adults.
- Review of pediatric management strategies offers insights for adult cases.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering vascular anomalies in adult respiratory cases.
- Emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and surgical treatment of aortic arch abnormalities.
- Suggests a multidisciplinary approach for managing rare adult tracheomalacia cases.