AORTIC-ARCH DISSECTION FROM PATENT DUCTUS-ARTERIOSUS

An unusual case of aortic arch dissection from a patent ductus arterio sus (PDA) is described. An adult man had been diagnosed as suffering f rom pectus excavatum and PDA 10 years before. At that time the pectus was repaired, but he failed to return for surgery on the PDA and the s ub-sternal strut for pectus repair was also never removed. Recently he was admitted in a peripheral hospital with chest infection. Patent du ctus arteriosus murmur was audible on clinical examination. The chest X-ray showed a widened mediastinum and the pectus strut. On further in vestigations dissection of the aortic arch was discovered and arch rep lacement performed.