Case Report

The Hidden Arch: An Incidental Vascular Surprise in a Toddler Undergoing Cleft Palate Repair

Abstract

Double aortic arch (DAA) is a rare congenital vascular anomaly that forms a complete vascular ring encircling the trachea and esophagus, potentially leading to respiratory and feeding difficulties. We present a case of a 15-month-old male with an incomplete cleft palate who had an incidental finding of codominant double arch of aorta on preoperative imaging. The child underwent successful cleft palate surgery under general anesthesia with appropriate airway precautions and multidisciplinary planning. This report highlights the anesthetic implications of vascular rings and the need for thorough preoperative assessment in children presenting with non-specific symptoms like recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and feeding intolerance.

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SectionCase Report(s)
Keywords
paediatrics congenital anomalies cleft palate pre anesthetic evaluation
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How to Cite
1.
Khatavkar S, Garud I, Yerramshetty M. The Hidden Arch: An Incidental Vascular Surprise in a Toddler Undergoing Cleft Palate Repair. Arch Anesth & Crit Care. 2026;.