European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Vol 6, 514-516, Copyright © 1992 by European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Conversion of lusoric artery into right subclavian artery in one-stage neonatal repair of aortic arch anomalies and intracardiac defects
AJ Bogers, AH Cromme-Dijkhuis and E Bos
Department of Thoracic Surgery, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
In 2 patients, a lusoric artery was compressing the mediastinal structures
during a one-stage repair of type B aortic arch interruption and
ventricular septal defect. In order to prevent the long-term complications
of sacrifice of the subclavian artery, the lusoric artery was not simply
divided but converted into a regular right subclavian artery by
re-implantation of the abberant vessel at the origin of the right carotid
artery during the one-stage repair. At follow up, both patients have normal
right radial arterial pulsations. In one patient, angiography was repeated
and confirmed a well functioning right subclavian artery. Conversion of a
lusoric artery into a right subclavian artery during one-stage repair of
aortic arch anomalies and intracardiac defects is not only feasible but
also indicated to preserve subclavian artery function and to prevent
compression of the mediastinal structures by a vascular ring.
