In laymans terms what is retroesopheal right subclavian artery with a 3 CM kommerel diverticulum?

Question

It is also known as Dysphagia Lusioria

Answer 1

This would be easier to draw than explain...

During development as a fetus, there are duplicate systems of central blood vessels on the right and left. Through a complicated, controlled and orderly process, some of these go away and leave what is normally found, that is, one main central blood vessel called the aorta.

The heart lies just behind the breast bone, and the aorta comes out of it from the top, arching over like a candy cane. It sits on the left side of the spine inside the chest and continues on down the body, with its branches coming out along the way.

Behind the heart, the airway (trachea) comes down the neck into the chest and splits right and left to the lungs. Behind THAT, the esophagus goes down the neck into the chest and on into the belly. The esophagus is right up against the spine the whole way down... usually.

At the top of the arch, there are typically three main arterial branches that go to the head and arms. First, there is the brachiocephalic (which means "arm-head") which then quickly branches into the right subclavian artery and the right carotid artery, that go to the right arm and up the right side of the neck, respectively. The other two branches from th aortic arch are the left carotid which goes up the left side of the neck, and the left subclavian which goes to the left arm. All these branches lie right behind the top of the breast bone (sternum) and the collar bones. They're normally out in front of the trachea and esophagus.

A retroesophageal right subclavian artery is a rare variation of anatomy that happens when that controlled and orderly process of fetal blood vessels going away during development... happens different than the usual plan. Instead of having all those large blood vessels out in front of the trachea and esophagus, one of them is wrapping around behind the esophagus and in front of the spine. In this case, it then goes out the right arm.

Abnormal blood vessel patterns like this are well described, and there are sometimes problems with the blood vessels limiting the space for the trachea and esophagus.

A Kommerel's diverticulum is an abnormality at the point where one of these large vessels leaves the aorta. It's an enlargement of the diameter, similar to what is termed an "aneurysm". I am unaware if the presence of Kommerel's diverticulum has any specific clinical problems associated with it in the way that abnormal great vessels have potential problems for the airway and esophagus.

These are problems detected usually in newborns who have airway or digestive problems. Surgical correction is performed by cardiac surgeons who specialize in little kids.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

It's like a pouch in a major blood vessel in the chest area

Answer 3

R neck/front shoulder/chest area artery with a small bulge

Answer 4

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