Unusual Manifestations of Vascular Rings

Abstract Vascular rings are a relatively rare entity caused by abnormal development of the fetal aortic arches. Most patients with vascular rings present in infancy or early childhood with respiratory (inspiratory) symptoms. The treatment of patients with symptomatic vascular rings is generally straight-forward, focusing on surgical division of the ring. The majority of patients are “cured” by this simple procedure. However, a small percentage of patients do not follow this typical course. The purpose of this manuscript is to review and discuss three patients who demonstrated unusual manifestations of vascular rings. Two patients required reoperation after double aortic arch repair and one had successful treatment of an aberrant right subclavian artery. (J Card Surg 2010;25:79-83)