Right aortic coarctation and ventricular septal defect: an unusual cause of tracheal compression in infancy.
OBJECTIVE
Acyanotic congenital heart diseases may occasionally present with tracheobronchial obstruction. Increased pulmonary blood flow against a high-resistance pulmonary bed may create significant pulmonary artery dilation.


METHODS
We report an unusual case of ventricular septal defect and right aortic arch coarctation, complicated with distal tracheal compression secondary to a pincer effect created by a right aortic arch and a massively dilated pulmonary artery.


RESULTS
High index of suspicion is required to anticipate tracheobronchial compression in acyanotic congenital heart diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is an invaluable tool to assess for tracheal compression relief following surgical repair and to identify tracheomalacia prior to extubation.
Caceres
Manuel
M
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. caceres_manuel@hotmail.com
Daggett
Casey
C
Lutterman
Joel
J
Gilbert
Christian
C
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery; D001017:Aortic Coarctation / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000150:complications; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000473:pathology; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery