title: Co-existence of patent ductus arteriosus and left brachiocephalic artery: a case report.
abstract: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may exist with other cardiovascular anomalies, which must be considered at the time of diagnosis. We report a rare co-existence of PDA and a variant of aortic arch branching pattern in a 12-year old Tanzanian female patient during surgery to close a PDA. In this case, the 'left brachiocephalic trunk' was seen to arise from the arch of aorta distal to the origin of the right brachiocephalic trunk. We discuss the relevant literature, its potential embryologic development and clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania. manyama73@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mange
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manyama
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania. emazyala@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazyala
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Bugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania. mahaluw@bugando.ac.tz.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mahalu
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000601:surgery*; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000002:abnormalities; D016122:Brachiocephalic Trunk / Q000002:abnormalities*; D002648:Child; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans