Interrupted aortic arch is a very rare heart defect (affecting 3 per million live births) in which the aorta is not completely developed. Interrupted aortic arch can be diagnosed before birth by a fetal echocardiogram ...

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of poor perfusion or congestive heart failure may develop when the ductus arteriosus begins to close, usually within the first day or two after birth

The infant may develop weakness, fatigue, poor feeding, rapid breathing, fast heart rate, or low oxygen levels, particularly when measured in the legs and feet.

This condition can worsen and lead to shock. The infant will then be pale, mottled and cool. The infant will likely have decreased urine output and poor pulses, especially in the lower extremities.

Causes

Interrupted aortic arch is thought to be a result of faulty development of the aortic arch system during the fifth to seventh week of fetal development. This defect is almost always associated with a large ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Patients with interrupted aortic arch often have a chromosomal abnormality called DiGeorge syndrome.

More about Treatment

Interrupted aortic arch is a very rare heart defect (affecting 3 per million live births) in which the aorta is not completely developed.

DIAGNOSIS:

Prenatal diagnosis: Interrupted aortic arch can be diagnosed before birth by a fetal echocardiogram or heart ultrasound as early as 18 weeks into the pregnancy. This test is done when there is a family history of congenital heart disease or when a question is raised during a routine prenatal ultrasound.

The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the organs of the body to supply them with nutrients. It first ascends in the chest to give off blood vessels to the arms and head. Then, it turns downward, forming a semicircular arch and heads toward the lower half of the body.
Interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is the absence or discontinuation of a portion of the aortic arch.

There are three types of interrupted aortic arch:

Type A: The interruption occurs just beyond the left subclavian artery. Approximately 30 percent to 40 percent of the infants with interrupted aortic arch have type A.

Type B: The interruption occurs between the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. Type B is the most common form of interrupted aortic arch. It accounts for about 53 percent of reported cases.

Type C: The interruption occurs between the innominate artery and the left carotid artery. Type C is the least common form of interrupted aortic arch, accounting for about 4 percent of reported cases.

FAQ

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