Oesophageal foreign body and a double aortic arch: rare dual pathology

• Published in: Journal of laryngology and otology 2009-12, Vol.123 (12), p.1404-1406
• Main Authors: O'Connor, T E, Cooney, T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aorta, Thoracic - abnormalities; Aorta, Thoracic - diagnostic imaging; Aorta, Thoracic - surgery; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Circulatory system; Constriction, Pathologic - etiology; Diseases of the aorta; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Esophageal Stenosis - etiology; Esophagus; Foreign Bodies; Foreign Bodies - complications; Humans; Infant; Investigations; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pulmonary arteries; Thoracic surgery; Tomography; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tracheal Stenosis - etiology; Tracheal Stenosis - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Ring; Vascular Surgical Procedures - methods; Veins & arteries
• ISSN: 0022-2151; 1748-5460
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022215109005659

We report the rare case of an oesophageal foreign body which lodged above the site of oesophageal compression by a double aortic arch. Case report and a review of the literature surrounding the classification, embryology, diagnosis and management of vascular rings and slings. An eight-month-old male infant presented with symptoms of tracheal compression following ingestion of an oesophageal foreign body. Following removal of the oesophageal foreign body, the infant's symptoms improved initially. However, subsequent recurrence of respiratory symptoms lead to a repeat bronchoscopy and the diagnosis of a coexisting double aortic arch, causing tracheal and oesophageal compression. To our knowledge, this is only the second reported case of a double aortic arch being diagnosed in a patient following removal of an oesophageal foreign body.