Fatal double aortic arch anomaly and maternal cocaine abuse.
We report a case of 2 months old female (born to a cocaine abuser mother) having respiratory dysfunction attributed to pneumonia. Autopsy, following a sudden, unexpected death, revealed a double aortic arch which was compressing the trachea and the esophagus. Health care professionals should conduct a detailed cardiac assessment on all cocaine-exposed infants at the time of birth and during infancy. Double aortic arch should be considered as a possible complication of intrauterine cocaine exposure and may present as sudden death.
Afzal
M Nasir
MN
Department of Basic Health Sciences, Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan. nasirafzal@hotmail.com
D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities*; D001344:Autopsy; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013398:Sudden Infant Death