Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery
- Jul 6, 2022
- 2 min read
The right subclavian artery typically comes from the brachiocephalic trunk, but with ARSA, it comes from the aortic arch. Most people have three branches that come from the aortic arch. From left to right, there is the brachiocephalic trunk, the left common carotid artery, and the left subclavian artery. From the brachiocephalic trunk, the right subclavian artery and the right common carotid artery stem. In ARSA, the right subclavian artery comes directly from the aortic arch instead of the brachiocephalic trunk.
This is a rare abnormality found in only about .4 - 1.8% of the population.
ARSA can be a cardiac sign of Down Syndrome when found in the second-third trimester of pregnancy
.
Although the majority of cases are asymptomatic, here are some of the symptoms:
dysphagia lusoria : trouble swallowing
stridor
dyspnea : shortness of breath
chronic cough
hoarseness of voice
chest pain or fever
The majority of cases are accidentally found.
author's note: I am currently unable to find the diagnostic process. Sorry for the inconvenience. If you have this diagnosis and feel like it, please consider filling out the form linked on the home page.
Treatment often isn’t warranted except in the presence of an aneurysm (because of the risk of rupture) or in symptomatic cases (when there are signs of compression of the esophagus and/or trachea). The typical surgical treatment is “the closure of the origin of AL and the revascularization of the right subclavian artery through a left thoracotomy.” - Hybrid Treatment of the Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery (Arteria Lusoria): Feasibility Study on 180 Angio-CTs
author's note: sorry for the quote. I couldn't figure out how to word it in a simple (and not plagiarized) way.
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Credit:
Author: Ivan
Researcher: Ivan
Editor: Ivan
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