Novel interrupted aortic arch: A case report.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is a rare and fatal malformation. Most patients with IAA are diagnosed in early childhood because of the severity of their symptoms. IAA is classified into three morphologic types (A, B, or C), depending on the site of the interruption. In our case, this patient did not have a common brachiocephalic trunk, left carotid artery, or left subclavian artery, IAA classification of this case cannot be judged based on the existing interruption method.

Methods: We present a 6-year-old Chinese boy with a history of neck masses since birth, and an echocardiogram from a local county hospital revealing an IAA without any cardiac anomalies, was referred to our hospital.

Results: The patient was feeling good and was nearly asymptomatic. Computed tomography angiography was performed, which indicated an absent aortic arch, likely due to disruption during development, and aortic discontinuity. The ascending aorta gave rise to both carotid arteries, and the descending aorta was supplied by large subclavian arteries. The right vertebral artery was supplied by right large collateral vessels that connected the right carotid artery. The left side was similar in structure to the right side. The descending aorta was supplied by large subclavian arteries. The subclavian arteries and carotid arteries were connected by large collateral vessels. Due to the large collateral vessels, the child's lower body had sufficient blood supplied, so that the typical differential cyanosis did not occur, and the child without symptomatic can survive to now.

Conclusions: This patient did not have a common brachiocephalic trunk, left carotid artery, or left subclavian artery. Maybe, this patient belonged to a new type of IAA.