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Purpose: The objective of this study was to characterize the electrophysiological characteristics of nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerves (NRILNs) that were dissected via intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and concomitant vascular anomalies in patients with NRILNs. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 7865 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with IONM at three tertiary referral centers. The study included 42 patients in whom an NRILN was detected. IONM data and postoperative vocal cord (VC) examinations were recorded for all patients. The absence of an initial vagal EMG response and/or a short (<3.5 ms) latency period during the initial vagal stimulation or the inability to identify the RLN within the Beahrs triangle was considered highly suspicious for the presence of an NRILN. Postoperative cross-sectional imaging was performed in 36 out of 42 patients to assess any concurrent vascular anomalies. Results: The prevalence of NRILN was 0.53%. An NRILN was suspected due to EMG findings in 32 (76%) patients and the inability to identify the RLN within the Beahrs triangle in the remaining 10 (24%) patients. The mean right VN latency period was 3.05 ± 0.15 ms. The V1 latency period of the right VN was shorter than 3.5 ms in 39 (93%) and longer than 3.5 ms in 3 (7%) patients. One of these three patients with latency>3.5ms had a large mediastinal goiter. Transient VC paralysis occurred in one (2.4%) patient. Of the 36 patients with postoperative imaging data, 33 (91.4%) had vascular anomalies. All 33 patients had aberrant right subclavian arteries, and 13 (39.4%) also had accompanying additional vascular anomalies. Conclusion: The NRILN is an anatomical variation that increases the risk of nerve injury. Observation of an absent EMG response and/or a short latency period during the initial vagal stimulation facilitates the detection of an NRILN at an early stage of thyroidectomy in the majority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN) is an anatomic variation seen in about 0.52–0.7% patients, generally on right side. It exits the vagus nerve having a direct route to the larynx, unlike usual recurrent laryngeal nerve, supplying intrinsic laryngeal muscles except cricothyroid. It is sited over left side on extremely rare occasions, that is, 0.04% of the cases. Some cases of NRLN co-exists with aberrant right subclavian artery which courses behind the esophagus, also known as 'arteria lusoria'. Here we present a case of 60-years old patient, diagnosed as goiter presented to us in june 2023 at the department of head and neck surgery at a tertiary care setup of Karachi Pakistan. Intra-operatively, non-recurrent nerve was encountered, whose association was found with arteria lusoria, observed in pre-operative CT-scan. The nerve was saved and no post-operative complications were seen in patient. The association of arteria lusoria in this case emphasize its importance in predicting NRLN via pre-operative imaging techniques which can prevent its injury intra-operatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endovascular repair of the thoracic aorta (TEVAR) is the preferred option for the treatment of the distal arch and descending thoracic aorta. Fenestrated and branched TEVAR have become an option to treat pathologies of the aortic arch, avoiding sternotomy and cardiopulmonary arrest as well as total surgical debranching. We describe here the case of a symptomatic patient with an arteria lusoria aneurysm associated with Kommerel diverticulum who underwent total endovascular repair with a triple-branched TEVAR. Case Report: A 66-year-old male patient was treated for a symptomatic arteria lusoria artery associated with a Kommerel diverticulum, resulting in difficulty swallowing and choking. We used a custom-made triple inner-branch endograft (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana) following implantation of a right-sided carotid-subclavian (C-S) bypass. The C-S bypass occluded in the interval time between the 2 procedures and required recanalization and stent-graft placement during the aortic arch procedure. The arteria lusoria was embolized with a vascular plug. No complications occurred and postoperative tomography showed exclusion and thrombosis of the Kommerel diverticulum and perfusion of the supra-aortic vessels. Conclusions: Treatment of arteria lusoria aneurysms can be performed with total endovascular arch inner-branch repair, avoiding increased risk of morbidity and mortality caused by open or hybrid procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeThe objective of this study was to characterize the electrophysiological characteristics of nonrecurrent inferior laryngeal nerves (NRILNs) that were dissected via intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and concomitant vascular anomalies in patients with NRILNs.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 7865 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with IONM at three tertiary referral centers. The study included 42 patients in whom an NRILN was detected. IONM data and postoperative vocal cord (VC) examinations were recorded for all patients. The absence of an initial vagal EMG response and/or a short (3.5ms had a large mediastinal goiter. Transient VC paralysis occurred in one (2.4%) patient. Of the 36 patients with postoperative imaging data, 33 (91.4%) had vascular anomalies. All 33 patients had aberrant right subclavian arteries, and 13 (39.4%) also had accompanying additional vascular anomalies.ConclusionThe NRILN is an anatomical variation that increases the risk of nerve injury. Observation of an absent EMG response and/or a short latency period during the initial vagal stimulation facilitates the detection of an NRILN at an early stage of thyroidectomy in the majority of patients.

Introduction: An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is an aortic anomaly that, in some cases, can be complicated with Kommerell's diverticulum (KD) at the origin of the ARSA. Progression and rupture of KD are associated with high mortality. Timely intervention is therefore required; however, there are no clinical guidelines for the most suitable intervention. Report: A 50 year old, previously healthy, male patient developed dysphagia. He was diagnosed with an aberrant right subclavian artery and KD. The KD increased in size from 4 – 7 cm within 2 months. He underwent single stage hybrid aortic repair involving an aortic valve replacement, total aortic arch debranchment, two thoracic endovascular aortic repair stents, and subclavian plugs. He developed a stroke during the post-operative period; however, all neurological symptoms had disappeared at 6 months and computed tomography showed no endoleaks and all supraortic vessels were open. Discussion: Literature on KD is limited; therefore, there is no consensus on KD treatment. Increasing awareness of rapidly developing KD will add to current knowledge of the disease. One stage cardiac and non-cardiac surgery was successfully performed with no long term complications.

Simple Summary: This retrospective case series provides real-life data of patients with a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve who underwent surgery at a high-volume thyroid surgery center using continuous intraoperative nerve monitoring to prevent vocal cord palsy. The results emphasize the feasibility and usefulness of continuous intraoperative nerve monitoring in patients with a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve. Thyroid surgery is associated with a risk of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerve, especially in the presence of anatomical variants such as a non-recurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN). Injury to the nerve leads to transient or permanent vocal cord palsy (VCP). A novel method to prevent VCP is continuous intraoperative nerve monitoring (cIONM), but less is known about the applicability of this method in patients with NRLN. The aim of this study was to evaluate our own data regarding feasibility and detailed characteristics of cIONM in NRLN patients. We performed a monocentric retrospective cohort analysis including clinical data and intraoperative nerve monitoring data (measured by Inomed Medizintechnik GmbH, Emmendingen, 'C2' and 'C2 Xplore' device) of all thyroid surgery patients, showing NRLN between 2014 and 2022. Of 1406 patients who underwent thyroid surgery with cIONM between 2014 and 2022, 12 patients (0.9%) showed NRLN intraoperatively. Notably, cIONM was feasible in eight patients (67%). In all cases the onset latency of the right vagus nerve was shorter (<3.0 ms) than usually expected, suggesting that a short latency might be suitable to distinguish NRLN. None of the patients had a post-operative VCP. Overall, cIONM appears to be feasible and safe in NRLN patients and provides helpful information to prevent VCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The retro-oesophageal right subclavian artery (RRSA) is a congenital anomalous branching of the arch of the aorta. Because its incidence is very low, it has not been fully understood how the RRSA develops during embryogenesis, and thus accumulation of observed findings in newly found cases is important to elucidate the aetiology of the RRSA. Materials and methods: We encountered a case of the RRSA during the course of gross anatomy dissection for medical students. Results: The main findings in the present observations are that (a) the RRSA arose from the right side wall of the arch of the aorta as its last branch; (b) the detected RRSA was directed to the right and upward between the oesophagus and vertebral column; (c) the right vertebral artery branched from the RRSA and entered the sixth cervical foramen transversarium; (d) the suprema intercostal artery branched from the costocervical trunk on both sides and its distal branches were distributed to the first and second intercostal spaces; and (e) both sides of bronchial arteries originated from the thoracic aorta. Conclusions: The present study gives further information about the morphological details of the RRSA leading to better understanding of its developmental process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is a rare condition, but the most common anomaly of the aortic arch. Although neurointerventions via transradial access (TRA) are becoming increasingly popular worldwide, transradial carotid cannulation has been extremely challenging in patients with an ARSA. Herein, we present a case of ARSA-associated anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm that was successfully treated with a radial-specific 6F Simmons guiding sheath via left TRA. We also review the relevant literature. A 68-year-old-woman who was diagnosed as having an ARSA-associated ACoA aneurysm underwent simple coiling via left TRA. After the 6F Simmons guiding sheath was engaged into the right common carotid artery using the pull-back-technique, transradial quadraxial system (6F Simmons guiding sheath/6F intermediate catheter/3.2F intermediate catheter/coil-delivery microcatheter) was implemented. Simple coiling of the aneurysm was successfully achieved without catheter kinking or system instability. The postprocedural course was uneventful. A follow-up magnetic resonance angiography showed no evidence of recanalization 1 years 9 months after the procedure. Transradial anterior circulation intervention has been rarely used for patients with an ARSA due to unfavorable catheter trajectory. Left TRA using the 6F Simmons guiding sheath is a useful treatment option to address anterior circulation interventions for patients with an ARSA. Preoperative diagnosis of ARSA is necessary for the application of our method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 73-year-old female donated cadaver had an unusual origin of the right subclavian artery (RSA), which is usually known as 'Arteria lusoria' (AL) or "Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery" (ARSA). This artery originated as the fourth and most extreme left branch from the arch of the aorta (AOA), distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery (LSA), and traversed obliquely upwards, towards the right side posterior to the oesophagus, heading for the thoracic inlet. The brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) was absent. The right common carotid (RCCA), left common carotid (LCCA), LSA and ARSA were four branches that originated from the aortic arch and ran from right to left. The course and distribution of these branches were normal. On opening the right atrium, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) was observed in the upper part of the interatrial septum. As far as we know, this is the first cadaveric case report of arteria lusoria with the presence of an atrial septal defect in the form of a PFO. Early diagnosis of aortic arch abnormalities using diagnostic interventions is beneficial for identifying risk factors after invasive procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atrophy of the fourth right aortic arch during embryogenesis can lead to arteria lusoria. This occurs with a frequency of 0.5-2%. This artery originates directly from the aortic arch as a fourth branch or from the proximal part of the descending aorta. Then it follows an upward and rightward direction crossing the trachea and esophagus in its course. This abnormal artery is accompanied in 20-60% of cases by dilatation of its proximal part, called Kommerell's diverticulum. A correlation has been noted between the presence of arteria lusoria and chromosomal aberrations, mainly Down syndrome. Arteria lusoria in fetuses is diagnosed using ultrasound, and in adults, the gold diagnostic standard is computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography. Consequences of arteria lusoria may include dysphagia (dysphagia lusoria), chronic cough, arteriooesophageal fistula, retrosternal pain, respiratory problems, and numbness of the right upper limb. Respiratory disorders accompanying arteria lusoria occur mainly in children because their trachea is less rigid than in adults and more prone to deformation. Arteria lusoria is a clinically significant marker of fetal congenital malformations. It also may be a cause of nonspecific symptoms in children and adults that should be considered during differential diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA), also called “arteria lusoria”, is described as a right subclavian artery (RSA) with a retro-oesophageal course that most frequently originates as the most distal branch of the aortic arch. The aim of the following study was to present and thoroughly describe a case of an ARSA, its course, branches, and relation to the surrounding anatomical structures and discuss the clinical significance and embryology of this variant. During routine dissection, a 63-year-old male cadaver with an abnormal variant of the RSA was found. The RSA branched off from the aortic arch as the most distal branch. Subsequently, it coursed posteriorly to the trachea and oesophagus at the level of T2 and T3. Abnormalities in the branching pattern of the RSA were also discovered, such as the right vertebral artery originating from the right common carotid artery as its first branch. This study presents a case of an ARSA, which is a rare anatomical variant of the branches of the aortic arch. The course and branching pattern of an aberrant subclavian artery is quite variable, and each variant can be associated with different possible complications. Furthermore, the ARSA is associated with other cardiovascular anomalies, such as the Kommerell’s diverticulum. Therefore, knowledge about the possible variations of this anomaly may be of great importance for physicians who encounter this variant in their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aberrant right subclavian artery, also known as the arteria lusoria, is the most common aortic arch anomaly, occurring in 0.5 to 1% of the population. There is a higher prevalence in women and it is usually associated with other anatomical variations, such as the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, present in 86.7% of cases. In the majority of cases, the aberrant right subclavian artery causes no symptoms. We describe this anomaly in an 82-year-old, hypertensive, and asymptomatic patient who had undergone a thoracoabdominal angiography to investigate a chronic DeBakey type III aortic dissection with dilation of the descending aorta. The aberrant right subclavian artery followed a retroesophageal course and was associated with a Kommerell diverticulum. In view of its rarity, we conducted an integrative bibliographic review of literature from the last 6 years indexed on the Medline, UpToDate, Lilacs, Scielo, and Portal Capes databases and discuss the most frequent anatomical changes, symptomatology, and therapeutic management adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant right subclavian arteries (ARSAs) are a form of vascular ring anomaly (VRA) in dogs and the most common VRA in people. To date, there has been no large-scale study on ARSA in dogs and their potential clinical significance. For part one, a single-center retrospective observational study was performed to determine the prevalence of ARSAs in a population of 1000 dogs undergoing contrast-enhanced CT for various reasons. For part two, further canine ARSA cases were collected to characterize their imaging features further and determine whether any imaging findings were more frequent in dogs with clinical signs attributed to a VRA. The prevalence of ARSA was 1.2% (12/1000). For part two, out of a total of 37 dogs with ARSA, this finding was thought to be incidental in 28 cases (75.6%), clinically relevant in 1 case (2.7%), and potentially relevant in 8 cases (21.6%). Cranial esophageal dilation with gas and fluid and esophageal compression at the site of the ARSA crossing the esophagus was found in the case where the ARSA was considered relevant. Esophageal dilation with esophageal compression by the ARSA was also more frequent in the potentially relevant group. Our study shows that an ARSA is more likely to be an incidental finding; however, due to the low number of cases where the ARSA was considered relevant, no specific imaging findings were found that could help determine their clinical relevance., (© 2025 The Author(s). Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.)

The Arteria lusoria or aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) constitutes one of the rarest malformations of the aortic arch, it can be associated with other congenital anomalies of the heart and large vessels, in particular the bi-carotid trunk or common origin of the carotid arteries (COCA) which is the presence of a single branch from the aorta giving off both right and left common carotid arteries. We report the case of a patient followed for severe mitral stenosis, and hospitalized for an ischemic cerebral vascular accident, a chest CT scan was performed in front of her clinical and biological degradation, which allowed the fortuitous discovery of an Arteria lusoria (aberrant retro-esophagealartery) associated with a Truncus bicaroticus.

ABSTRACT: History of present illness: A 25-year-old male with a history of asthma presented to the emergency department (ED) with the sensation of food impaction in the mid-thoracic region and inability to swallow that began twenty minutes prior to arrival after eating chicken. Careful history revealed that the patient had several ED visits for similar episodes during his early childhood. Physical examination was benign with stable vitals. He had a clear oropharynx and normal breath sounds bilaterally. On cardiac auscultation, there was a regular rate and rhythm without appreciable murmur. Significant findings: After an unremarkable chest radiograph was obtained, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the chest was obtained due to possible co-ingestion of bones to rule out perforation. The CT scan demonstrated focal distention of the mid-esophagus due to an impacted food bolus (white arrow). An aberrant right subclavian artery (yellow arrow) was located just distal to the impaction site with partial compression of the esophagus (red arrow). Discussion: Arteria lusoria is an aberrant right subclavian artery. It is the most common embryologic abnormality of the aortic arch, occurring in 0.5% to 1.8% of the population.1 In this condition, the right subclavian artery arises directly off of the aorta, distal to the left subclavian artery, as opposed to the normal branching off the right brachiocephalic artery. While the majority of cases are asymptomatic, occasionally the artery will compress adjacent structures including the trachea and esophagus.2 This phenomenon was first described in 1794 by a London physician who remarked on a fatal case of "obstructed deglutition.”3 When the aberrant right subclavian artery causes compression and trachea-esophageal symptoms such as dysphagia, it is termed dysphagia lusoria. The patient was diagnosed with dysphagia lusoria and given an intravenous bolus of glucagon with resolution of symptoms in one hour. He was able to tolerate liquids and solids without difficulty upon discharge. Management of dysphagia varies based on presentation and ability to tolerate oral intake. CT imaging may be useful in cases of recurrent food bolus impactions or high clinical suspicion for aerodigestive injury. Patients unable to swallow may require emergent subspecialist evaluation with additional imaging and endoscopic evaluation. Structural abnormalities such as dysphagia lusoria may ultimately require surgical intervention for definitive resolution of symptoms. Topics: Arteria lusoria, dysphagia, aberrant right subclavian artery.

The most common anomaly of the aortic arch and its branches is the aberrant right subclavian artery – arteria lusoria. Usually, it produces dysphagia or dyspnea and chronic coughing.Our purpose is to underline that it is necessary to exclude the anomalies of the branches of the thoracic aorta, including arteria lusoria, in the patients with cardialgia of unknown origin.Clinical case. An 18-year-old female patient without a previously diagnosed chronic pathology was admitted to a hospital with chest pain after emotional stress for about an hour. The ECG revealed a sinus rhythm with a heart rate of 50 per minute, the normal direction of the electrical axis of the heart, the incomplete right bundle branch block, the negative T wave in the lead III. After excluding ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography revealed an aortic arch anomaly – a. lusoria.Conclusion. A. lusoria may manifest by cardiac pain. In patients with chest pain of unknown origin, it is advisable to include anomalies of the aorta and its branches, including the presence of the lusoria artery, in the range of differential diagnostics.

Arteria lusoria, an aberrant right subclavian artery originating distal to the ostium of carotid arteries, is the most common congenital aortic arch anomaly. It is commonly associated with other congenital anomalies of the heart and great vessels resulting from embryologic malformation of the aortic arch, including truncus bicaroticus, which is a common trunk of bilateral common carotid arteries. The association between arteria lusoria and truncus bicaroticus is about 29%. We reported a rare case of truncus bicaroticus with arteria lusoria in a 40-year-old male patient detected incidentally during coronary angiography through the right radial approach.

The aortic arch is characterized by the origin of 3 collateral branches whose usual order of irruption corresponds to: brachiocephalic arterial trunk, left common carotid artery, and left subclavian artery. The anatomical variations of these supra-aortic trunks are the consequence of alterations in the embryonic development of the primitive aorta. In the present study, we report and analyze the case of an aberrant right subclavian artery in association with a non-recurrent right inferior laryngeal nerve, variants observed during deep mediastinal dissection of a formalin-preserved male cadaveric specimen. The aberrant right subclavian artery originated from the posterior face of the aortic arch, adjacent and lateral to the left subclavian artery, describing a retroesophageal course, to then continue its usual course towards the right axillary fossa, crossing the interscalene triangle. As a variant dependent on the aberrant artery, the right inferior laryngeal nerve was observed with a non-recurrent course, whose origin was located at the cervical level. Based on the findings and the consulted bibliography, an analysis of the incidence of this variation, its embryogenic origin and its clinical consequences was carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) is a rare embryological abnormality but the most common among aortic arch vascular anomalies. It represents an anatomical variant of right subclavian artery originating as the last branch of aortic arch, passing then retroesophageal to the normal position. It is usually asymptomatic and is found mostly incidentally during imaging examinations. Symptoms are produced when the aberrant artery compresses the nearby structures and the most frequent symptoms are dysphagia and dyspnea. It may be associated with other vascular or heart abnormalities. We are presenting a series of case reports which presented an aberrant right subclavian artery alone or associated with other vascular abnormalities, diagnosed incidentally in adult patients while performing CT examinations for other reasons. Through a literature review we aim to discuss the clinical implications of this vascular anomaly, to point out the importance of being aware of it especially in patients with dysphagia or dyspnea or in patients who undergo operations in the thorax and neck or vascular surgery and endovascular procedures involving the aortic arch and its branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac malformations represent almost half of the malformations at birth, being conjoined twins a much less frequent variant, predominantly female. The case of toracodimus siamese twins, where there is an asymmetric development and there is a well formed fetus and a rudimentary fetus, finding in the latter heterotaxia, and a congenital malformation of the aortic arch, presented as aberrant right subclavian artery. We present its descriptive anatomy, the clinical significance of this malformation and its incidence of occurrence, this being a unique case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To synthesise and present all available evidence regarding the surgical treatment of patients with aberrant subclavian artery (aSA) pathologies during the last 30 years. The study also aimed to create a checklist of suggested reporting items to help increase reporting homogeneity. A systematic search of medical databases was performed to identify all studies published between 1990 and 2020 reporting on the outcomes of patients undergoing surgery for an aSA pathology. Patients were divided into two groups; Group A included patients undergoing open or hybrid surgery through sternotomy/thoracotomy and Group B included patients undergoing endovascular or hybrid treatment without chest access. The % crude rates (CR) of all variables of interest were calculated. A proportion meta-analysis was performed reporting pooled rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Three hundred and fourteen studies were identified reporting on the surgical outcomes of 732 patients (60.1% males; 440/732). The quality of evidence was generally low, with 286 studies including fewer than four patients and 28 studies with five or more cases. Aberrant right subclavian artery (aRSA) in a left sided aortic arch was present in 71.4% of the patients and a Kommerell's diverticulum was present in 50.1% of the cases. A total of 68% of the patients were symptomatic on presentation, with the majority complaining of dysphagia (49.6%). Group A included 453 and Group B 279 patients. Studies reporting on five or more patients were included in the main meta-analysis. The pooled early mortality rate was 1.62% (95% CI 0.05% – 4.53%) in Group A and 1.96% (95% CI 0 – 6.34%) in Group B. Pooled rates of symptom relief were 99.52% (95% CI 92.05% – 100.00%) in Group A and 95.79% (95% CI 83.96% – 100.00%) in Group B. The surgical techniques used to treat aSA and aortic pathologies involving an aSA had remarkably low mortality rates and high clinical success, regardless of the technique used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arteria lusoria is an aberrant right subclavian artery. In symptomatic cases, patients report dysphagia and only in few cases dyspnea, due to external compression of the trachea and esophagus. Symptoms occur in advanced age and diagnosis is made with chest HRCT, when other causes of dysphagia have been excluded. Case Report: An 83-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and mechanical dysphagia for solids. Therefore, she did a chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) that showed areas of consolidation of the lung parenchyma, pleural effusion and presence of arteria lusoria, with a retroesophageal course. After 18 days, dysphagia and dyspnea worsened. The new chest HRCT revealed bilateral atelectasis of the lower lung lobes and severe compression of esophagus and trachea along the course of the arteria lusoria. Conclusion: Considering its dangerousness, this vascular anomaly should be considered in advanced aged patients with dysphagia and dyspnea, once other causes have been excluded.

Introduction. The performance of interventional procedures on carotid and sometimes coronary arteries through radial access remains to be a challenging task. The presence of a. lusoria (a. l.) is an example of the complex anatomy of the aortic arch and its branches, which is considered to be a contraindication for interventions on the coronary and carotid arteries through radial access. In this study, an analysis of the intervention strategy for combined atherosclerotic lesions of the carotid and coronary arteries was carried out using a clinical case of a. l.Materials and methods. Patient K., 56 years old, with multifocal atherosclerosis. Control angiography revealed an abnormal aortic arch with abnormal branches. The atherosclerotic lesions included a chronic occlusion of the right coronary artery (RCA) in the proximal segment with a significant stenosis of the right internal carotid artery.Results and discussion. Given the significant difficulties in catheterising the right common carotid artery through a.l., it was decided to catheterise the left radial artery distally. To achieve reliable support of the guiding catheter, the Claret technique was used. To that end, a JR 7.5F (ASAHI) guiding catheter was remodeled into a Simmons catheter. To facilitate the selective catheterisation of the right common carotid artery, a Pigtail 5F diagnostic catheter was used as an extension (mother-child technique). The presented strategy enabled a successful catheterisation of the right common carotid artery, eventually allowing passing all the necessary instruments through the guiding catheter into the internal carotid artery to perform the intervention. The second stage was the recanalisation of a chronic occlusion of the right coronary artery. For RCA catheterisation, the left radial artery was chosen. A JFR 6F Adroit (Cordis) guiding catheter proved to be the most convenient. With its proper support, the RKA was re-canalised using a Gaia Third coronary guide (ASAHI). In order to determine the position of the guide in the RCA distal part, a contrasting was performed from the LCA system. After the RCA re-canalisation, stents with an antiproliferative coating were implanted with a good angiographic result.Conclusion. The described clinical case and technical solutions allow endovascular care through radial access to be provided to patients with abnormalities of the aortic arch.

Managing an adult patient with aortic coarctation and associated anomalies presents a significant surgical challenge. We present a case of an adult male with aortic coarctation, pre-coarctation distal arch 7-cm aneurysm involving the origin of the left subclavian artery, and aberrant (lusoria) right subclavian artery. He was managed with one surgical approach, consisting of right carotid-subclavian bypass, exclusion of the right subclavian artery, proximal descending aortic replacement and reinsertion of left subclavian artery, using partial cardiopulmonary bypass., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery.)

Objective: To elucidate the short- and long-term mortality, morbidity, and endoleak incidences in the hybrid management of aberrant subclavian artery (ASA)., Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 99 articles comprising n = 272 cases using PRISMA were supplemented by Cohen's Kappa for assessor consistency. The analysis involved a random-effect model, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals, tests of heterogeneity, and probability. This review was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023405011)., Results: The 30-day mortality was 4.6% (95% CI: 1.4%-14.4%) with an overall mortality of 7.3% (95% CI: 2.9%-18.7%) demonstrating a 1.2% increase in mortality per decade of life beyond 60 years. The reported morbidity was 7.6% (95% CI: 3.7%-15.7%) and higher in males albeit higher age ( p < .05) (67 vs 59 years). The endoleak incidence stood at 7.8% (95% CI: 3.3%-18.3%) with Type-I the as prominent (48%). Rupture presentation was in 3%, whilst esophageal fistulation ( n = 2/3) was associated with morbidity of 66%. Treatment varied, with TEVAR and carotid-subclavian bypass being the most common modality of the choice. The median follow-up was 12 months (IQR, 1-60 months)., Conclusion: The observed incidence of mortality, morbidity, and endoleak shows the current role of the hybrid approach in managing ASA. These results emphasize the critical role of detailed surgical planning, combined endovascular and open expertise, and the necessity for a common registry to monitor long-term outcomes., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: It is unclear whether the development of the branches of the subclavian artery is dependent on the proximal part of this artery since great vessel formation is partially regulated by haemodynamic stress. For example, the vertebral artery that usually arises from the subclavian artery might be affected by anomalies in the aortic arch branches. This uncertainty is partly due to the limited reports of highly anomalous cases of proximal and distal branching morphologies. Here, we report an Adachi-Williams type CG plus H aortic arch case found during student dissection and discuss the development of the cervicothoracic circulation., Case Report: Here, we report an aberrant right subclavian artery that arose from the aorta distal to the left subclavian artery, via a retroesophageal course, whereas the right and left common carotid arteries arose from a short common trunk from the aorta (the carotid trunk) (Adachi-Williams type H). In addition, the left vertebral artery arose directly from the aortic arch between the carotid trunk and the left subclavian artery (Adachi-Williams type CG). Anomalies in the branching arteries from this aberrant right subclavian artery (the right vertebral artery, internal thoracic artery, thyrocervical trunk, costocervical trunk and thoracoacromial artery) were unidentifiable. The right vagus nerve directly innervates the laryngeal muscles without forming the recurrent nerve., Conclusions: The development of an aberrant right subclavian artery might affect haemodynamic stress in both the proximal and distal regions of the anterior limb region. The distal branching morphology, however, was normal, suggesting an independence of proximal and distal vasculature development. Since the concomitance of Adachi-Williams-type CG and H is rare, rather than sequentially develop, the distal arteries develop in a fine-tuned manner to adapt to anomalies in the proximal arteries.

A young child, who had a previously unsuspected aberrant right subclavian retro-oesophageal artery, swallowed a button battery complicated with recurrent life-threatening bleeding, and survived after repeated percutaneous treatment as a bridge to surgery.

Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is the most common embryologic abnormality of the aortic arch. The presence of ARSA has been previously associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome. ARSA at birth may be associated with dysphagia, respiratory distress and stridor and there is no clear evidence‐based management. The aim of this study was to describe the associations with chromosomal abnormalities and the postnatal outcome of fetuses diagnosed with ARSA. We analysed fetuses diagnosed antenatally with ARSA between January 2013 and September 2019 in the fetal echocardiography unit of the Hospital Monaldi, University 'Vanvitelli' of Naples, Italy. The results showed fifty fetuses diagnosed with ARSA, all confirmed after birth. The ARSA was an isolated finding in 46 fetuses (92%), while in 4 fetuses the ARSA was associated with other cardiac and/or extra-cardiac anomalies. Only one fetus was diagnosed with trisomy 21 (2%). In this fetus the ARSA was the only ultrasound anomaly identified. There were no cases necessitating referral due to the presence of compression symptoms at birth. The presence of ARSA was associated with trisomy 21 in the 2% of cases in our series and there were no neonatal complications due to airway compression at birth. What is already known on this subject? Aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is the most common embryologic abnormality of the aortich arch. ARSA at birth could be associated with dysphagia, respiratory distress and stridor and no evidence-based management of these fetuses has been described yet. The presence of ARSA has been previously associated with an increased risk of Down syndrome. What do the results of this study add? This study confirms known data on association with chromosomal defects and provides some original data on the absence of symptomatology due to tracheal compression with a postnatal follow-up up to three years of age. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our findings suggest that in cases with adequate prenatal assessment performed by experienced clinicians, delivery can safely take place at local hospitals, with no need of referral soon after birth. The use of transthoracic echocardiography to confirm the diagnoses of ARSA after birth and to plan the next follow-up appointments can be supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aberrant right subclavian artery, also known as the arteria lusoria, is the most common aortic arch anomaly, occurring in 0.5 to 1% of the population. There is a higher prevalence in women and it is usually associated with other anatomical variations, such as the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, present in 86.7% of cases. In the majority of cases, the aberrant right subclavian artery causes no symptoms. We describe this anomaly in an 82-year-old, hypertensive, and asymptomatic patient who had undergone a thoracoabdominal angiography to investigate a chronic DeBakey type III aortic dissection with dilation of the descending aorta. The aberrant right subclavian artery followed a retroesophageal course and was associated with a Kommerell diverticulum. In view of its rarity, we conducted an integrative bibliographic review of literature from the last 6 years indexed on the Medline, UpToDate, Lilacs, Scielo, and Portal Capes databases and discuss the most frequent anatomical changes, symptomatology, and therapeutic management adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a case of primary angioplasty of right coronary artery (RCA) through right radial artery access in a patient with aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) and anomalous origin of RCA. Major challenges in such cases are difficulty in hooking coronary ostia and getting enough support from the guide catheters. However, another challenge confronted in this patient was the anomalous origin of RCA from the left sinus. Herein, we discuss key aspects of management in this scenario. Arteria lusoria with anomalous RCA can be confronted during the transradial intervention. Use of an appropriate guide catheter to facilitate the procedure in this scenario can help interventionists to manage such a situation, and this can be a useful alternative in those patients with unfavorable transfemoral access along with this rare anomaly.

Background: According to the anatomical data, the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is a rather common abnormality and can be found in 4.78% of people. At the same time, the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve is difficult to visualize during surgery, which increases the risk of its damage. Aim: to determine the possibilities of ultrasound of neck vessels in the preoperative diagnosis of the aberrant right subclavian artery (arteria lusoria) and the abnormality of the branches of the vagus nerve. Materials and methods: An observational, single-center, single-stage, randomized, uncontrolled clinical trial was performed, which included patients in whom surgery was performed due to thyroid and parathyroid pathology. In the preoperative period, all patients underwent the ultrasound of the right half of the neck vessels and the mediastinum with visualization of the brachiocephalic trunk and its branches. When the brachiocephalic trunk was detected in the preoperative period, mobilization of the thyroid gland during operation was started with ligation of the upper pole vessels, and followed by a search for the recurrent laryngeal nerve. However, if the brachiocephalic trunk was absent, the right common carotid artery was traced as low as possible to the aortic arch and assessed on its relationship with the right subclavian artery. In such cases, thyroid mobilization was started from the lateral surface of the lobe with the necessary visualization of all structures of this region and followed by a primary search for the inferior laryngeal nerve. When the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was detected, the computed tomography of the brachiocephalic arteries was performed in the postoperative period. Results: The study has shown that 202 (95.28%) patients out of the total 212 revealed the brachiocephalic trunk on preoperative ultrasound and the recurrent laryngeal nerve was located in a the typical place. Arteria lusoria was detected in 4 (1.89%) cases after the preoperative ultrasound. In this group of patients the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified during operation and the aberrant right subclavian artery was confirmed at computed tomography. In 6 (2.83%) cases the brachiocephalic trunk could not be detected on ultrasound due to the constitutional features of the patient. However, in all these cases, the typical recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified during a surgery. Conclusions: The ultrasound of the neck vessels is the effective method to detect arteria lusoria, which is the predictor of the non-recurrent laryngeal nerve.

In early embryogenesis, aortic anomalies occur as a consequence of disorders in the development of the primitive aortic arches system. Aberrant right subclavian artery, also known as arteria lusoria, is one of the important congenital anomalies of the aortic arch, in which the right subclavian artery arises from the arch of aorta instead of the brachiocephalic trunk. During routine dissection of a female cadaver, we observed retro-oesophageal aberrant right subclavian artery arising as the fourth branch from the aortic arch. In this case, the brachiocephalic trunk was absent. Early detection of aortic arch anomalies through diagnostic interventions is helpful to avoid complications during surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arteria lusoria, an aberrant right subclavian artery originating distal to the ostium of carotid arteries, is the most common congenital aortic arch anomaly. It is commonly associated with other congenital anomalies of the heart and great vessels resulting from embryologic malformation of the aortic arch, including truncus bicaroticus, which is a common trunk of bilateral common carotid arteries. The association between arteria lusoria and truncus bicaroticus is about 29%. We reported a rare case of truncus bicaroticus with arteria lusoria in a 40-year-old male patient detected incidentally during coronary angiography through the right radial approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aortic injuries associated with unstable spinal fractures are a rare but serious condition, with high mortality. Rapid and multidisciplinary management is crucial to prevent fatal complications. We report the case of a female patient who, following a road traffic accident, presented with a displaced fracture of the fourth dorsal vertebrae (D4), with a detached anterior fragment adjacent to the posterior aspect of the aortic arch and the origin of the arteria lusoria. The multidisciplinary discussion concluded that surgery without an aortic prosthesis is associated with a major hemorrhagic risk due to aortic injury during spinal fixation manipulations, and surgery with a prosthesis is associated with immediate risks of ischemic cerebrovascular accident, gas embolism, and upper limb ischemia. We opted to prepare the patient for spinal stabilization surgery after placing the aortic prosthesis type: Zenith Alpha ZTA-PT-30-26-108 thoracic prosthesis (Cook Medical, Bloomington, Indiana, US). Our team's therapeutic approach is being discussed given the rarity of cases in the literature and the patient's anatomical characteristics. Surgical management in these situations must repair the unstable fracture while avoiding the aggravation of an existing or potential aortic injury. The aortic lesion can be treated first, before spinal fixation, either with open surgery, which carries a high risk of severe complications, or thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR), which allows the prevention of the potential aortic injury or repair of the existing aortic injury while minimizing the side effects of open surgery. However, endovascular surgery may have limitations due to individual vascular anatomy, as in our patient's case, which can prevent optimal endograft positioning and lead to risks such as endoleak, ischemia, infection, or thrombosis, necessitating periodic radiological follow-up. Endovascular repair is a new paradigm that has improved clinical outcomes for these patients by securing the vascular injury first before spinal surgery. Teamwork and multidisciplinary discussion ensure optimal safety, minimizing the side effects of these lesions, which can be fatal at any time during management., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Kantri et al.)

Background: An aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA) is a rare vascular anomaly defined by the origin of the right subclavian artery from the aorta, distal to the left subclavian artery (LSA). An ARSA was found in an 83-year-old female during cadaveric dissection for anatomy teaching, which had an unusually narrow lumen compared to previously reported cases., Materials and Methods: The specific morphology of this ARSA variant was characterised by further dissection and measurements. A systematic review of cadaveric case reports with quantitative evaluation of ARSA dimensions was conducted for comparison with this case., Results: This ARSA variant exhibited an unusually narrow lumen (8.22 mm²) compared to the LSA (152.55²), with an ARSA: LSA ratio of 0.24. The systematic review included 17 studies with 23 cases of ARSAs. Of these cases, 20 contained details of ARSA diameter, 19 of which were wider than in this case. In all studies where both ARSA and LSA diameters were measured, ARSA was found to be significantly wider than LSA (mean ratio of ARSA to LSA: 1.49, range: 1.09-2.00). Several other variations were reported in these studies, such as concomitant aortic arch branch anomalies and differing origins of ARSA as defined by vertebral level and relation to the aortic arch., Conclusions: This case report presents an unusually narrow ARSA which has not been previously described in the literature. As there is limited evidence on how ARSA morphology affects clinical outcomes, further research is needed to better inform management of ARSAs.

The arteria lusoria or retroesophageal right subclavian artery is the most common malformation of the aortic arch. It may be discovered with some symptoms of airway and/or esophageal compression, such as dyspnea or dysphagia, but in most cases it is an asymptomatic pathology. We report a case of a 3 months old patient diagnosed with Down syndrome who was admitted for pulmonary infection with incidental finding of retrooesophageal right subclavian artery., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

L´arteria lusoria ou artère sous Clavière droite retro-œsophagienne constitue la malformation de l´arc aortique la plus fréquente avec une prévalence de 0,5-2,5 %. Elle peut être découverte face à des symptômes de compression des voies respiratoires et/ou œsophagienne tels qu´une dyspnée ou une dysphagie voire infections respiratoires à répétition ; mais la plupart des cas c´est une pathologie asymptomatique comme rapportée par plusieurs auteurs. Nous rapportons le cas d´une patiente de 44 ans qui a été prise en charge dans notre service de réanimation pour une détresse respiratoire liée à l´arteria lusoria. C´est une cause rare de dyspnée à laquelle il faudra y penser devant une dyspnée ne répondant pas au traitement médical. Sa prise en charge reste médicale avec une simple surveillance, si elle est asymptomatique mais une intervention chirurgicale serait nécessaire si elle devient symptomatique ou quand elle est associée à un diverticule de Kommerell (DK).

The right aberrant subclavian artery, also known as arteria lusoria, is an anatomical variation described in the literature with an incidence of < 1%. Compression related symptoms can arise from the retroesophageal space and retrotracheal course of the artery. Only a few cases are reported of ischemic symptoms derived from a stenosed or occluded right aberrant subclavian artery. We present a case of ischemic right upper limb symptoms due to an occluded right aberrant subclavian artery treated with a hybrid procedure. The patient was submitted to a left subclavian artery stenting and left to right axillary bypass without complications.

Background. The aberrant right subclavian artery (lat. arteria lusoria, AL) is a rare vascular abnormality of the aortic arch in humans, which occurs with a frequency of 0.1–2.5 % and is of great clinical importance due to the associated abnormality of the lower laryngeal nerve (non-recurrent laryngeal nerve, NLN), the risk of damage to which during thyroid surgery increases dramatically. For the first time in Ukraine, the clinical case of preoperative diagnosis of AL, intraoperative identification of NLN is comprehensively described and the current state of the issue is analyzed. The purpose was to show the importance of studying the aortic arch anatomy with a possible presence of AL, which in turn causes abnormal embryonic formation of NLN with a high risk of its damage during thyroid surgery, based on the case history of a treated female patient with papillary thyroid cancer. Materials and methods. A case of recurrent papillary thyroid cancer in a young woman who underwent surgery twice (total thyroidectomy with left radical neck dissection, right lateral and central neck redissection) is described. Before the second surgery, an abnormal right subclavian artery has been identified using computed tomography. The presence of right NLN was suspected, which was confirmed by electrophysiological neuromonitoring during surgery. The analysis of the relevant world literature showed the urgency of the issue and the lack of similar case reports in Ukrainian scientific literature. Results. Based on the computed tomography scans (with 3D reconstruction of the main vascular structures of the neck), the aberrant right subclavian artery coming from the distal part of the aortic arch was found (AL). The existence of a nerve abnormality was assumed — right NLN. By the use of electroneuromonitoring and dissection of the right vagus nerve during the operation, the vascular-nervous anomaly was confirmed, which helped avoid surgical complications leading to laryngeal dysfunction and perform a surgical treatment for cervical metastases of thyroid cancer successfully. Conclusions. When a thyroid surgery is planned, one should keep in mind the possibility of a vascular abnormality of the aortic arch with a corresponding risk of damage to the inferior laryngeal nerve, which can be non-recurrent. X-ray or sonography may reveal an aberrant location of the right subclavian artery, and the use of electroneuromonitoring may facilitate the identification of NLN to avoid its damage during the neck surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Arteria lusoria is an aberrant right subclavian artery. In symptomatic cases, patients report dysphagia and only in few cases dyspnea, due to external compression of the trachea and esophagus. Symptoms occur in advanced age and diagnosis is made with chest HRCT, when other causes of dysphagia have been excluded. Case Report: An 83-year-old woman presented with dyspnea and mechanical dysphagia for solids. Therefore, she did a chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) that showed areas of consolidation of the lung parenchyma, pleural effusion and presence of arteria lusoria, with a retroesophageal course. After 18 days, dysphagia and dyspnea worsened. The new chest HRCT revealed bilateral atelectasis of the lower lung lobes and severe compression of esophagus and trachea along the course of the arteria lusoria. Conclusion: Considering its dangerousness, this vascular anomaly should be considered in advanced aged patients with dysphagia and dyspnea, once other causes have been excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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CHARGE syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition caused by mutations in the chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 7 (CHD7) gene. The present study reported on the case of a 16-month-old female with plurimalformative syndrome, whose etiology was identified by clinical whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis. Clinical and follow-up assessments identified multiple craniofacial dysmorphisms, congenital defects and functional symptoms, including dysphagia and Marcus Gunn jaw winking synkinesis. Trio-WES analysis was performed for the patient and their parents and the presence of CHARGE syndrome was further indicated using single-molecule real-time sequencing. A de novo pathogenic variant, c.4379_4380del (p.Ile1460Argfs*15), was identified in exon 19 of the CHD7 gene, which resulted in a premature translational stop signal. Trio-WES analysis was used for further investigation, indicating that neither of the patient's parents had the mutation and confirming its de novo nature. To the best of our knowledge, the case of the present study was the first reported case of CHARGE syndrome in Romania with congenital defects including an aberrant right subclavian artery and a horseshoe kidney. CHARGE syndrome was diagnosed in the patient based on the pathogenic mutation in the CHD7 gene. To the best of our knowledge, the present case report is the first to suggest that the CHD7 gene variant is associated with CHARGE syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transradial is becoming the access of choice for coronary angiography (CAG). Arteria lusoria (AL) poses a challenge for right transradial access because it can cause difficulty in accessing the ascending aorta. Of 18,686 patients who underwent CAG in Geisinger Medical Center from 2012 to 2018, 6 had a diagnosis of AL. Four underwent attempted right radial access, in 3 cases before AL was identified. All were successful, and one patient had successful right transradial percutaneous coronary intervention. CAG and PCI can be successfully performed using right radial access in patients with AL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aberrant right subclavian artery is the most common aortic arch anomaly that frequently occurs in coexistence with other congenital cardiovascular anomalies. A 32-year-old male patient was hospitalized with ventricular septal defect, chronic heart failure NYHA class III, pulmonary arterial hypertension. Contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography revealed membranous ventricular septal defect, persistent left superior vena cava, bicuspid aortic valve and aberrant right subclavian artery. Aberrant right subclavian artery was clinically silent and discovered accidentally. The patient underwent heart–lung transplantation due to pronounced, irreversible pulmonary hypertension. This article reports a rare coexistence of aberrant right subclavian artery with other congenital anomalies of the heart and great vessels in living men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve is the rare anatomic feature which is usually detected during operation on the thyroid gland in 0.3–1% cases. Iatrogenic injury could happen due its atypical position. In our article we analyzed literature review, described appearance reasons, relations with vascular malformations and clinical value of non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve. We have described two own cases of the detected non-recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Bleeding of an aberrant right subclavian artery following transthoracic en bloc esophagectomy and intrathoracic gastric reconstruction is a rare but severe complication in esophageal surgery. Preoperative diagnosis can be achieved by computed tomography or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Various treatment options are available; thus, the treatment can be challenging and should be adjusted to the severity of the symptoms. Bleeding of an aberrant right subclavian artery can result from perioperative vascular injury or various postoperative complications. We report about a case of a patient with esophageal cancer and an asymptomatic, simultaneously existing aberrant right subclavian artery. The patient underwent a successful conventional Ivor-Lewis esophageal resection without any life-threatening bleeding. Early detection and intraoperative identification was of major importance for successful surgery.

Background: Kommerell’s diverticulum is a rare vascular anomaly characterized as an outpouch at the onset of an aberrant subclavian artery. In the variant of a right-sided aortic arch, the trachea and esophagus are enclosed dorsally by the arch. In the configuration of an aberrant left subclavian artery, a Kommerell’s diverticulum and persisting ductus arteriosus or ductal ligament enclose the lateral side, forming a vascular ring which may result in (symptomatic) esophageal or tracheal compression. Spontaneous rupture of an aneurysmatic Kommerell’s diverticulum has also been reported. Due to the rarity of this condition and underreporting in the literature, the clinical implications of a Kommerell’s diverticulum are not well defined. Case summary: We describe seven consecutive adult patients with a right-sided aortic arch and an aberrant course of the left subclavian artery (arteria lusoria), and a Kommerell’s diverticulum, diagnosed in our tertiary hospital. One patient had severe symptoms related to the Kommerell’s diverticulum and underwent surgical repair. In total, two of the patients experienced mild non-limiting dyspnea complaints and in four patients the Kommerell’s diverticulum was incidentally documented on a computed tomography (CT) scan acquired for a different indication. The size of the Kommerell’s diverticulum ranged from 19 × 21 mm to 30 × 29 mm. In the six patients that did not undergo surgery, a strategy of periodic follow-up with structural imaging was pursued. No significant growth of the Kommerell’s diverticulum was observed and none of the patients experienced an acute aortic syndrome to date. Discussion: Kommerell’s diverticulum in the setting of a right-sided aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery is frequently associated with tracheal and esophageal compression and this may result in a varying range of symptoms. Guidelines on management of Kommerell’s diverticulum are currently lacking. This case series and literature overview suggests that serial follow-up is warranted in adult patients with a Kommerell’s diverticulum with small dimensions and no symptoms, however, that surgical intervention should be considered when patients become symptomatic or when the diameter exceeds 30 mm in the absence of symptoms.