Peter Ďurdík, Anna Šparcová, Mária Chrenšťová, Branislav Kolarovszki, Peter Bánovčin
Vascular ring is an unusual and rare congenital anomaly that occurs in the development of the aortic arch and its great vessels. Various severe respiratory (recurrent respiratory infection, chronic cough, recurrent atelectasis, aspiration pneumonia, respiratory distress) and/or gastrointestinal symptoms (dysphagia) can be suspected for vascular ring. Labor, feeding, crying, infections usually worsen clinical status. Cardiac examination with echocardiography and color-flow Doppler, imaging and endoscope investigation (chest X-ray picture, Barium esophageal passage, computerized tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, angiography and bronchoscopy) are the basic diagnostic management. The therapy depends on the type of vascular ring, intensity of clinical symptoms and severity of tracheal, bronchial or esophageal compression. Surgical treatment is indicated in patients with severe clinical manifestation. The long-term prognosis is well.