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Oesophageal foreign body and a double aortic arch: rare dual pathology

T E O'Connor1, T Cooney

  • 1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Western Australia, Australia. antoconnor@ireland.com

The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|May 28, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A rare case of an infant with an esophageal foreign body revealed a coexisting double aortic arch. This vascular anomaly caused tracheal and esophageal compression, highlighting diagnostic challenges in pediatric cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Cardiovascular Surgery
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Vascular rings and slings are congenital anomalies of the aortic arch.
  • Double aortic arch is a rare type of vascular ring causing tracheal and esophageal compression.
  • Foreign body ingestion is common in infants and can mimic other pathologies.

Observation:

  • An 8-month-old infant presented with respiratory distress after ingesting an esophageal foreign body.
  • Initial foreign body removal provided temporary symptom relief.
  • Recurrent respiratory symptoms prompted further investigation, revealing a double aortic arch.

Findings:

  • The double aortic arch was compressing the trachea and esophagus.
  • This is the second reported case of a double aortic arch diagnosed after foreign body removal.
  • Literature review on vascular ring classification, embryology, diagnosis, and management was performed.

Implications:

  • Foreign body ingestion can mask or coexist with congenital vascular anomalies.
  • Early diagnosis of vascular rings is crucial for preventing long-term complications.
  • This case underscores the importance of thorough investigation in recurrent pediatric respiratory symptoms.
Abstract

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