Presentation
Has regurgitated food after eating since adopted at 6 weeks of age.
Patient Data
On the thoracic study, there is leftward deviation of the trachea on the ventrodorsal projection at T3-T4. The cervical and cranial thoracic esophagus is dilated with gas and fluid.
Barium was administered orally and static images were obtained. There is narrowing of the esophagus at the heart base on the esophagram with proximal dilation. The esophagus is narrowed in a medial to lateral direction on the ventrodorsal projection, and is positioned to the left of the curve in the trachea. Some barium is able to reach the stomach and duodenum.
Case Discussion
This is an extraluminal mechanical obstruction of the esophagus by a congenital vascular ring anomaly. The deviation of the trachea is very specific for this disorder.
Persistent right aortic arch was confirmed on CT angiography. A thoracoscopy was performed to ligate and transect the band of tissue compressing the esophagus. The dog was gradually returned to a normal diet.
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.