Bovine aortic arch: clinical significance and hemodynamic evaluation

AbstractObjective: The most common aortic arch branching variation described in literature is the common origin of the brachiocephalic trunk and left common carotid artery (“bovine arch” / type II aortic arch), with an incidence of 7.2–21.1%. The first aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bovine arch in the fetuses. The second aim was the hemodynamic evaluation of the epiaortic vessels.Methods: In two years we examined 742 pregnant women and it was possible to obtain a good hemodynamic evaluation in 39 patients. Among the 39 fetuses, we found 6 with bovine arch. The blood flow of all epiaortic vessels and of MCA was evaluated.Results: Among the 742 fetuses examined, the bovine aortic arch was identified in 45 patients (6.06%). The hemodynamic evaluation of the epiaortic vessels showed statistically significant differences between the bovine arch and normal aortic arch.Conclusion: The presence of bovine aortic arch in the fetus is characterized by some hemodynamical differences. They coul...