ABSTRACT
A nine-month-old boy with a prenatal diagnosis of aorto-left ventricular tunnel (ALVT) and aortic valve disease underwent an urgent ALVT patch closure approximately 2 h after birth. The patient subsequently developed airway compression due to the progressive dilatation of the ascending aorta postoperatively associated with aortic regurgitation and stenosis. After 9 months of prolonged respiratory symptoms following the ALVT repair, he underwent a posterior plication of the ascending aorta. After plication, the tracheal compression and respiratory symptoms improved. A computed tomography (CT) scan 1 month after surgery revealed significant free space between the aorta and the trachea, which relieved the aortic compression. Posterior plication of the ascending aorta is achieved by resecting the posterior aortic wall adjacent to the airway. It is the procedure of choice for longer and more effective relief of airway compression compared to other procedures such as anterior aortopexy, the lateral sliding technique, and side clamp plication.
ABSTRACT
The aorta is the main arterial trunk in the human body, however, its variation was extremely variable. During an educational dissection, aberrant branching pattern of aortic arch was found in a Korean cadaver. The brachiocephalic trunk (innominate artery) originated from the aortic arch at the left side of the trachea. It crossed the trachea and divided into the right common carotid and subclavian arteries. The left vertebral artery originated from the aortic arch between the origins of the left common carotid artery and the left subclavian artery, then the left vertebral artery coursed upward to the transverse foramen of the C7. The author describes this previously novel case report with aberrant brachiocephalic trunk and left vertebral arteries and discusses the clinical implications of such a variant.
La aorta es el tronco arterial principal del cuerpo humano, sin embargo, su variación es extremadamente variable. Durante una disección de rutina de un cadáver coreano, se encontró un patrón de ramificación aberrante del arco aórtico. El tronco braquiocefálico se originaba del arco aórtico en el lado izquierdo de la tráquea. Cruzaba la tráquea y se dividía en las arterias carótida común y subclavia derecha. La arteria vertebral izquierda se originó a partir del arco aórtico entre los orígenes de la arteria carótida común izquierda y la arteria subclavia izquierda, luego la arteria vertebral izquierda ascendió hacia el foramen transversal de la séptima vértebra cervical. Se describe un caso de tronco braquiocefálico aberrante y la correspondiente arteria vertebral izquierda y se discuten las implicaciones clínicas de tal variante.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Aged, 80 and over , Aorta, Thoracic/abnormalities , Tracheal Stenosis , Brachiocephalic Trunk/abnormalities , CadaverABSTRACT
Innominate artery compression of the trachea, which is included within the vascular rings, although rare can cause serious respiratory disorders in childhood even putting at risk the childs life. Most cases are asymptomatic but can also occur with cough, stridor, cyanosis and/or apneas. Diagnostic images play a fundamental role, specially computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging that provide detailed anatomical information. Bronchoscopy allows confirmation of the diagnosis and assesses the severity of the disorder; moreover, this procedure is also used as support in surgery (aortopexy). Conservative treatment is indicated in less severe cases. Two cases of pediatric patients are presented, one a newborn with severe symptoms and an asymptomatic lactating infant.
La compresión traqueal por arteria innominada, que se incluye dentro de los anillos vasculares, aunque es poco frecuente puede provocar trastornos respiratorios graves en la infancia poniendo incluso en riesgo la vida del niño. La mayoría de los casos son asintomáticos aunque también pueden presentarse con tos, estridor, cianosis y/o apneas. Las imágenes diagnósticas cumplen un rol fundamental, destacando la tomografía computarizada y la resonancia magnética que otorgan información anatómica detallada. La fibrobroncoscopía permite confirmar el diagnóstico y estimar la severidad de la alteración; por otra parte, este procedimiento también se utiliza como apoyo en la cirugía (aortopexia). El manejo conservador está indicado en los casos menos severos. Se presentan 2 casos de pacientes pediátricos, un recién nacido con síntomas severos y un lactante menor asintomático.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant, Newborn , Tracheal Stenosis/etiology , Tracheal Stenosis , Brachiocephalic Trunk/abnormalities , Brachiocephalic Trunk , SyndromeABSTRACT
En el niño, la compresión extrínseca de la tráquea es habitualmente de origen vascular, siendo menos frecuente la ocasionada por tumores, cardiopatías, quistes y abscesos. Los anillos vasculares son anomalías congénitas del arco aórtico y sus ramas que comprimen la tráquea o el esófago en grado variable. Son poco frecuentes, pero constituyen una causa importante de difcultad respiratoria en el niño, por lo que se deben incluir en el diagnóstico diferencial de la obstrucción de la vía aérea superior. Los síntomas de presentación son el estridor, la difcultad respiratoria y la disfagia de intensidad variable. El alto grado de sospecha clínica es el factor más importante para su diagnóstico, lo contrario, puede ocasionar un significativo retraso entre el inicio de los síntomas y el diagnóstico correcto. Presentamos cuatro pacientes con diferentes tipos de anillos vasculares con el objetivo de describir manifestaciones clínicas, métodos diagnósticos y tratamiento.
In children, extrinsic compression of the trachea is usually due to vascular origin, and less frequently caused by tumors, heart diseases, cysts and abscesses. Vascular rings are congenital anomalies of the aortic arch and its branches that compress the trachea and/or esophagus to varying degrees. Although these congenital anomalies are not frequent, they constitute a major cause of respiratory distress in children. Thus, these anomalies should be included in the differential diagnosis of obstruction of the upper airway. Symptoms include stridor, respiratory distress and dysphagia of different intensity. The high degree of clinical suspicion is the most important factor for diagnosis, fail to do so can cause a signifcant delay between symptom onset and correct diagnosis. We present four patients with different types of vascular rings in order to describe clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Male , Airway Obstruction/etiology , Aorta, Thoracic/abnormalities , TracheaABSTRACT
Tracheal compression by vascular anomalies in adults is uncommon and most related reports are of children. A 79-year-old woman without any respiratory history underwent a lumbar spine surgery under general anesthesia. She suddenly developed airway obstruction after a position change from supine to prone. A fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed the obstruction of endotracheal tube. The obstruction was relieved after we changed the depth of endotracheal tube and supported the patient's neck with a cotton roll. The surgery ended without any other event and the patient recovered safely. A computed tomography revealed the rightward tracheal deviation and tortuous innominate artery contact with trachea. The patient didn't manifest any respiratory related symptoms during postoperative period, and she was discharged without any treatment.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Airway Obstruction , Anesthesia, General , Brachiocephalic Trunk , Bronchoscopy , Neck , Postoperative Period , Prone Position , Spine , TracheaABSTRACT
An aneurysm of the innominate artery could compress the tracheal lumen, and this requires special care. Intubation without intensive monitoring and antihypertensive agents could aggravate the hypercapnia and completely rupture the aneurysm. There are few reports on the airway management of tracheal compression that's caused by an innominate artery aneurysm. We report here on a patient who had a severe hypercapnia after endotracheal intubation above the stenotic area of the tracheal compression, which was caused by an artery aneurysm. Permissive hypercapnia was inadvertently enforced without our knowledge, but the patient recovered without any neurologic problems.