Dysphagia Lusoria Caused by an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery

Carrizo, Gonzalo J. MD
Marjani, Massoud A. MD

Department of Surgery, Waterbury Hospital Health System, Waterbury, Connecticut 06708

Address for reprints: Massoud A. Marjani, MD, Department of Surgery, Waterbury Health Center, Waterbury, CT 06708

Dr. Carrizo is now at North Shore–Long Island Jewish Health System, Manhasset, New York.

Texas Heart Institute Journal 31(2):p 168-171, June 2004.

A 36-year-old, otherwise-healthy woman with a 6-year history of progressive dysphagia underwent an esophagogram that revealed an oblique extrinsic defect with an inferior-to-superior (left-to-right) course consistent with an aberrant right subclavian artery. An aortogram confirmed the diagnosis of aberrant right subclavian artery.

She underwent surgical repair, tolerated the procedure well, and was discharged home, symptom free, on postoperative day 3. We found that the right supraclavicular approach provides good exposure and avoids the morbidity of the classically described approach via a median sternotomy or thoracotomy.