Cardiovascular Diseases and Cardiac Surgery

Overview

Elizabeth H. Stephens, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric and congenital cardiac surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, describes the surgical repair strategy for adults with vascular rings — specifically, right aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian.

This technique, developed by Alberto Pochettino, M.D., and Thomas C. Bower, M.D., involves two stages:

• Transposition of the subclavian artery to the carotid via an incision in the neck
• Replacement of the aortic segment containing the Kommerell's diverticulum via a right thoracotomy

 Dr. Stephens explains the technique using diagrams and operative footage in the context of two clinical cases.