Dysphagia Lusoria with atrial septal defect: Simultaneous repair through midline

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Congenital Heart Disease

Background:

• Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) originating from the descending aorta is typically an isolated finding.
• Congenital heart defects often require complex surgical management.
• Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for pediatric cardiovascular conditions.

Observation:

• A four-year-old child presented with an aberrant right subclavian artery arising from the descending aorta.
• The patient also had an associated ostium secundum atrial septal defect.
• This combination represents a rare presentation of congenital cardiovascular anomalies.

Findings:

• Simultaneous surgical repair of both the aberrant right subclavian artery and the atrial septal defect was performed.
• The surgical approach utilized was median sternotomy.
• The aberrant right subclavian artery was reimplanted into the right common carotid artery.

Implications:

• Median sternotomy is presented as the optimal surgical strategy for managing this combined anomaly.
• This case highlights the feasibility of simultaneous repair for complex congenital cardiovascular issues.
• Understanding surgical approaches for rare vascular anomalies is essential for pediatric cardiac surgeons.