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Recurrent respiratory tract infections and dysphagia in a child with an aortic vascular ring

Wolfgang Pumberger1, Peter Voitl, Hubert Göpfrich

  • 1Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Vienna, Donauspital-SMZO, Austria.

Southern Medical Journal
|February 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Vascular rings are a rare cause of recurrent respiratory infections and dysphagia in children. Early diagnosis and surgical correction of right aortic arch with ligamentum arteriosum can resolve these symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Thoracic Surgery

Background:

  • Recurrent respiratory tract infections and dysphagia in early childhood are often attributed to common causes, delaying diagnosis of rarer conditions.
  • Vascular rings, though uncommon, can cause significant extrinsic compression of the trachea and esophagus.

Observation:

  • A 2-year-old girl presented with frequent respiratory infections and acute esophageal foreign body impaction.
  • Diagnostic imaging revealed a right descending aortic arch with a patent ductus arteriosus (ligamentum arteriosum) causing esophageal-tracheal compression.

Findings:

  • The right descending aortic arch and ligamentum arteriosum formed a vascular ring compressing the esophagus and trachea.
  • Surgical division of the ligamentum arteriosum successfully released the compression.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering vascular anomalies in the differential diagnosis of pediatric respiratory and swallowing difficulties.
  • Prompt surgical intervention for vascular rings can lead to immediate symptom resolution and prevent long-term complications.

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