Long-term outcomes of complete vascular ring division in children: A 36-year experience from a single institution

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Complete vascular rings are rare and cause tracheoesophageal compression. Following surgical division, some patients have persisting tracheomalacia. We aim to assess the long-term outcomes of complete vascular ring division. METHODS: All patients (n = 132) who underwent surgical division of a complete vascular ring between 1978 and 2014 were identified from the hospital database and retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Complete vascular rings consisted of a double aortic arch (n = 80), right aortic arch with an aberrant subclavian artery and left ligamentum arteriosum (n = 50), right aortic arch with mirror image branching and left ligamentum arteriosum (n = 1), and a left aortic a..