Overview
Circumflex aorta refers to an aortic arch configuration where the aorta crosses posteriorly, potentially forming a vascular ring that can compress adjacent structures like the trachea and esophagus 1.Diagnosis
Imaging: Computed tomography (CT) is essential for diagnosing circumflex aorta and assessing vascular ring anomalies 1.
Clinical Presentation: Varied, including symptoms of tracheal and esophageal compression 1.Management
Surgical Intervention: Aortic uncrossing procedure recommended as a primary strategy for managing symptomatic cases 1.
Preoperative Planning: Thorough preoperative diagnosis and planning crucial for successful surgical outcomes 1.Special Populations
Pediatrics: Not specifically addressed in provided abstracts.
Elderly: Not specifically addressed in provided abstracts.
Comorbidities: No specific guidance provided for comorbidities related to circumflex aorta in the given abstracts.Key Recommendations
Preoperative diagnosis using CT imaging is essential for managing patients with circumflex aorta to plan appropriate surgical interventions (Evidence: Moderate 1).
The aortic uncrossing procedure should be considered as a primary surgical strategy for symptomatic patients with circumflex aorta (Evidence: Weak 1).
Ensure thorough preoperative assessment to minimize residual symptoms of tracheal and esophageal compression post-surgery (Evidence: Expert opinion 1).References
1 Kaskar A, Dhabe V, Sen S, Pradhan P, Garg S, Kumar G. Aortic Uncrossing for Circumflex Aorta. World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery 2024. link
2 Bouwmeester OVA, van de Pol D, Kuijer PPFM, Planken RN, Terpstra A, Pannekoek-Hekman M et al.. Diagnostic properties of the SPIQuestionnaire to detect Posterior Circumflex Humeral Artery Disease in elite volleyball players: a cross-sectional study. European journal of radiology 2018. link