Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Surgery for Complete Vascular Rings

Few studies describe outcomes after complete vascular ring surgery in a comprehensive manner.

This study sought to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic work-up, operative approach, and outcomes in children undergoing surgery for complete vascular rings.

This single-center retrospective cohort study includes consecutive patients (January 1990 through September 2023) undergoing primary surgery for complete vascular rings, or rerepair after primary surgery elsewhere. The primary outcome of interest was complete (as distinct from partial) symptom resolution at latest clinic follow-up. Our current preference is to pursue a comprehensive initial operation including adjunctive vascular and airway procedures targeting common causes of residual aerodigestive symptoms, such as Kommerell diverticulum resection and tracheobronchopexy. Preoperative work-up routinely involved computed tomographic angiography, dynamic bronchoscopy, and laryngoscopy.

Of 515 patients (including 39 rerepairs), the most common diagnoses were right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery and left ligamentum arteriosum (n = 323, 62.7%) and double aortic arch (n = 174, 33.8%). There was no perioperative mortality. Chylothorax occurred in 28 patients (5.4%), vocal cord dysfunction in 22 patients (4.3%), and diaphragm paralysis in 2 patients (0.4%). Follow-up was available on 453 patients (88.0%) with a median duration of 3.0 years (Q1-Q3: 0.6-9.2 years). At latest clinic follow-up, 429 patients (94.7%) reported complete symptom resolution. The risk of reoperation for residual or recurrent aerodigestive symptoms was 9.6% (95% CI: 5.7%-13.5%) at 10 years and 12.4% at 20 years (95% CI: 6.9%-17.8%).

Surgery for complete vascular rings provides good symptomatic relief with low risk of complications, whereas reoperations for aerodigestive symptoms are infrequent.