vascular ring
A congenital cardiovascular anomaly in which an aberrant aortic arch or great vessel encircles and compresses the trachea, oesophagus, or both, causing respiratory and/or feeding symptoms in children.
Full Definition
Vascular rings encompass a spectrum of anomalies including double aortic arch, right aortic arch with left ligamentum arteriosum, and pulmonary artery sling. The tracheal compression produced can mimic asthma or recurrent croup, making it a significant differential diagnosis in paediatric pulmonology. Diagnosis typically requires CT angiography or MRI. In editorial copy, 'vascular ring' is written as two words, lowercase unless at the start of a sentence; it should not be hyphenated. Authors sometimes conflate vascular ring with 'pulmonary sling', which is a subtype, not a synonym.
Usage
Usage note: Two words, lowercase. 'Pulmonary artery sling' is a distinct subtype and should not be used as a synonym for the broader category 'vascular ring'.
In Context
- "The persistent expiratory wheeze unresponsive to bronchodilators raised suspicion for a vascular ring compressing the distal trachea." — Paediatric pulmonology clinic letter
- "CT angiography identified a double aortic arch, confirming the vascular ring diagnosis." — Radiology-pulmonology joint report