title: Isolated interrupted aortic arch: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: An 18-years-old male presented to emergency department after a car accident with the diagnosis of femoral bone fracture. Arterial blood pressure was 160/90 mmHg in both arms. Bilateral femoral and popliteal pulses were extremely weak and there was systolic ejection murmur on the left second intercostals area. Chest X-ray showed rib notching with normal cardiac silhouette. Transthoracic echocardiography showed the aortic interruption just below the left subclavian artery. Aortography showed a complete interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) just distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery. Femoral bone fracture was treated by conservative strategy. A gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiogram (1.5 T scanners) clearly reaffirmed a complete interruption of the descending aorta, 3.6 cm from the left subclavian artery with extensive collateralizations. Mild degree hypertension was controlled by a long acting calcium channel blocker. Later the patient has been scheduled for elective surgical repair. We aimed to discuss the diagnostic and treatment options of the interrupted aortic arch as being a rare anomaly.
authors.affiliation: Dücze Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Konuralp, Düzce, Turkey. rakdemir@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Akdemir
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozhan
authors.forename: Enver
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erbilen
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yazici
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gündüz
authors.forename: Cihangir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uyan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003287:Contrast Media; D004452:Echocardiography; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D013348:Subclavian Artery; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D003287:Contrast Media; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA