Vascular ring
Vascular ring | |
---|---|
Synonyms | |
Pronounce | N/A |
Specialty | Cardiology, Pediatrics |
Symptoms | Stridor, dysphagia, respiratory distress |
Complications | Tracheomalacia, esophageal compression |
Onset | Infancy |
Duration | |
Types | Double aortic arch, Right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery |
Causes | Congenital heart defect |
Risks | |
Diagnosis | Chest X-ray, Echocardiogram, CT scan, MRI |
Differential diagnosis | Asthma, Laryngomalacia, Gastroesophageal reflux disease |
Prevention | |
Treatment | Surgical repair |
Medication | |
Prognosis | Generally good with treatment |
Frequency | Rare |
Deaths |
A congenital vascular anomaly affecting the trachea and esophagus
Vascular ring is a rare congenital defect in which the aorta or its branches form a complete or partial ring around the trachea and esophagus, potentially causing compression and leading to respiratory and digestive symptoms. This condition is a type of congenital heart defect and can vary in severity depending on the specific anatomy of the vascular structures involved.
Anatomy and Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]
A vascular ring occurs when the normal embryological development of the aortic arch and its branches is altered, resulting in abnormal vascular structures that encircle the trachea and esophagus. The most common types of vascular rings include:
- Double aortic arch: This is the most common type of complete vascular ring, where the aorta splits into two arches that encircle the trachea and esophagus before rejoining into a single descending aorta.
- Right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery: In this variant, the aorta arches to the right instead of the left, and the left subclavian artery arises abnormally, often causing a partial ring.
- Pulmonary sling: This occurs when the left pulmonary artery arises from the right pulmonary artery and passes between the trachea and esophagus, forming a sling-like structure.
Clinical Presentation[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of a vascular ring can vary depending on the degree of compression on the trachea and esophagus. Common symptoms include:
- Respiratory distress, especially during feeding or crying
- Stridor, a high-pitched wheezing sound caused by disrupted airflow
- Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing
- Recurrent respiratory infections
- Chronic cough
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
The diagnosis of a vascular ring is typically made using imaging studies. These may include:
- Chest X-ray: May show tracheal narrowing or deviation.
- Barium swallow: Can reveal esophageal compression.
- Echocardiography: Useful for visualizing the heart and great vessels.
- CT scan or MRI: Provides detailed images of the vascular structures and their relationship to the trachea and esophagus.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
The primary treatment for symptomatic vascular rings is surgical intervention. The specific surgical approach depends on the type of vascular ring and the structures involved. The goal of surgery is to relieve the compression on the trachea and esophagus by dividing or repositioning the abnormal vascular structures.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
With appropriate surgical treatment, the prognosis for individuals with a vascular ring is generally good. Most patients experience significant improvement in symptoms following surgery. However, some may have residual respiratory or swallowing difficulties that require ongoing management.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD