Dysphagia lusoria treated by surgery

Aberrant right subclavian artery, also called arteria lusoria, is the most common congenital anomaly of the aortic arch (prevalence 0,5-1.8 %). Patients with trisomy 21 have a higher prevalence (35 %). It takes its origin from the aortic arch after the three others supra-aortic trunks. It may be associated with other cardiovascular anomalies. In more than 80 % of cases, the aberrant artery is positioned behind the oesophagus. It is often asymptomatic. Sometimes it is associated with symptoms after the age of 40 years old, more often among women: dysphagia (dysphagia lusoria), dyspnoea or cough. Diagnosis is made by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. When it is symptomatic, a barium contrast radiography of the oesophagus is indicated. Surgical treatment by transposition of the aberrant vessel is performed only for symptomatic patients. We report the case of a 50-year-old woman with dysphagia lusoria treated by transposition of the aberrant right subclavian artery into the right common carotid through a cervical approach.