H-Type Tracheoesophageal Fistula with Incomplete Double Aortic Arch in an Infant

Abstract

H-type tracheoesophageal fistula and incomplete double aortic arch may result in recurrent respiratory symptoms due to communication between trachea and esophagus in former and external compression of airway in later. Though both these malformations are not very rare and are commonly diagnosed during infancy, the combination of these two is never reported in literature. The double aortic arch has important clinical and therapeutic implications especially during surgical correction of H-type tracheoesophageal fistula. Therefore, clinicians and surgeons should be aware of these vascular malformations when dealing with a case of H-type tracheoesophageal fistula. We present an 8-month-female who presented with recurrent respiratory symptoms and diagnosed to have H-type tracheoesophageal fistula and incomplete double aortic arch with atresia of the distal left arch and aortic diverticulum. H-type tracheoesophageal fistula should be suspected in infants with recurrent respiratory symptoms and radiological investigations should be focused to diagnose it and associated vascular malformations.