Aortic uncrossing of the left circumflex aorta

The following video tutorial presents the surgical correction of the left circumflex aortic arch in a 6-month-old boy with severe respiratory distress and stridor. The diagnosis was confirmed using cardiac catheterization and computed tomography. Intraoperative bronchoscopy showed marked compression of the trachea. An operation was planned to translocate the aortic arch anteriorly and to close the atrial septal defect. After a median sternotomy, the mediastinal structures were carefully mobilized and dissected. The trachea was carefully mobilized and the right ligamentum arteriosum was clipped and divided. Control of the aortic arch vessels, as well as the aberrant right subclavian artery from the right descending aorta, was achieved using vessel loops. An arterial line inserted in the femoral artery was connected to the heart-lung machine. Hence the surgical procedure was undertaken in selective antegrade cerebral perfusion combined with distal body perfusion, avoiding the need for deep hypothermic arrest. Careful mobilization of the complete course of the proximal and distal sections of the circumflex arch allowed its translocation from its retro-oesophageal course. The aortic stump distal to the left subclavian artery was closed by running polypropylene suture. An appropriate site on the ascending aorta was selected to ensure tension- and torsion-free anastomoses. Postoperative bronchoscopy confirmed relief of the tracheal compression.