title: Recurrent respiratory tract infections and dysphagia in a child with an aortic vascular ring.
abstract: Recurrent respiratory tract infections and dysphagia after the first years of life are rarely caused by vascular rings, and only a high index of clinical suspicion helps to avoid diagnostic delay and inappropriate treatment. Diagnostic workup in a 2-year-old girl with acute foreign body impaction into the esophagus and frequent respiratory tract infections revealed right descending aortic arch with ligamentum arteriosum as the cause of extrinsic esophageal-tracheal compression. Dividing the ligament gave release to the encircled esophagus and trachea. Relief of symptoms was achieved immediately after surgery.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Vienna, Donauspital-SMZO, Austria.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pumberger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Voitl
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Göpfrich
mesh_terms: D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000209:etiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology*