Posterior Aortopexy

This video demonstrates a technique of posterior aortopexy for the management of airway compression.

The patient was an 11-year-old boy who underwent division of a double aortic arch-type vascular ring as a newborn. He continued to be troubled by shortness of breath, particularly with exertion. Bronchoscopy showed mild compression of the distal trachea and significant compression of the right main stem bronchus. Pulmonary function studies also showed flow abnormalities, and chest computed tomography angiogram confirmed compression of the right bronchus by the descending aorta. Via a thoracotomy, the descending aorta was displaced into the right paravertebral gutter to relieve this compression.