Repair of double aortic arch in patients with concomitant cardiac anomalies

BACKGROUND Double aortic arch (DAA) associated with other cardiac anomalies is uncommon. We review the outcomes of primary complete repair of DAA with concomitant cardiac anomalies in a single center. METHODS From September 2005 through March 2014, 15 patients underwent primary complete repair of DAA with concomitant cardiac anomalies. The mean age was 53 months (range, two months to 19 years). RESULTS All patients underwent primary complete correction through a median sternotomy. One patient died in hospital from severe pneumonia. The intubation time ranged from 20 to 68 h and the intensive care unit stay ranged from one day to five days. Postoperative complications were infrequent and included left vocal cord paralysis in one patient. A residual ventricular septal defect was found in one patient. During follow-up, all patients were in New York Heart Association Class I. CONCLUSIONS Primary complete repair of DAA with concomitant cardiac anomalies is feasible and results in excellent long-term outcomes.