Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tracheal deviation on X-rays helps diagnose right aortic arch in dogs
By Buchanan, James W·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2004·School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Tracheal signs and associated vascular anomalies in dogs with persistent right aortic arch.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs with persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) were studied to understand how this condition affects their trachea and esophagus. Many of these dogs showed signs of tracheal deviation and narrowing on X-rays, which can help veterinarians diagnose PRAA. The study found that dogs with PRAA often had other vascular issues, and the trachea was consistently curved to the left near the heart. If your dog is regurgitating after eating solid food, this could be a sign of PRAA, and the X-ray findings can help your vet confirm the diagnosis without needing additional tests.
People also search for: dog regurgitating after eating · persistent right aortic arch in dogs · dog tracheal deviation diagnosis
Abstract
Medical records of 55 dogs with 1 or more vascular rings around the esophagus and trachea were reviewed to determine the nature and frequency of related vascular anomalies and to determine the reliability of tracheal deviation on radiographs for the diagnosis of persistent right aortic arch (PRAA). Fifty-two (95%) of the 55 dogs had PRAA. Of the 52 dogs with PRAA, 44% had coexisting compressive arterial anomalies: 17 had retroesophageal left subclavian artery and 6 had double aortic arch with atretic left arch. Characteristic tracheal deviation was consistently present in dogs with PRAA. Moderate or marked focal leftward curvature of the trachea near the cranial border of the heart in dorsoventral (DV) or ventrodorsal (VD) radiographs was found in 100% of available radiographs of 27 dogs with PRAA. Moderate or marked focal narrowing of the trachea also was noted in 74% of DV or VD radiographs and 29% of lateral radiographs of the dogs. Tracheal position in 30 of 30 dogs with megaesophagus and 62 of 63 control dogs was midline or rightward in VD or DV radiographs. Histology in a neonatal dog with PRAA revealed evidence of tracheal deviation and compression even before birth. Focal leftward deviation of the trachea near the cranial border of the heart in DV or VD radiographs is a reliable sign of PRAA in young dogs that regurgitate after eating solid food, and contrast esophagrams are not necessary to confirm the diagnosis of vascular ring compression.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15320589/