Complete cartilage-ring tracheal stenosis associated with anomalous left pulmonary artery: the ring-sling complex.
The persistent high mortality in infants with pulmonary artery "sling" (retrotracheal anomalous left pulmonary artery) is primarily due to the coexistence in such patients of long-segment tracheal stenosis due to complete cartilage rings. Five such patients are reported. Airway studies (by filtered high-kV radiography, bronchography, and/or CT) showed low carina, horizontal equal-length right and left mainstem bronchi, and long-segment tracheal stenosis. The length of the stenosis far exceeded the contact with the pulmonary sling. The suggested term "ring-sling complex" for such patients correctly places emphasis on detection of the tracheal malformation, which currently has no satisfactory surgical treatment.
D001995:Bronchography; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging