Abnormalities of the aortic arch system compressing the oesophagus and trachea

. Twenty-eight children with abnormalities of the aortic arch system compressing the oesophagus and trachea, who presented to the Prince Charles Hospital over a three year period are reviewed. The presentation, clinical course, investigations and treatment of this group of patients are discussed. The patients are grouped on the basis of the abnormal anatomy and each group is discussed with reference to the embryology. This paper emphasises the important role of the cine barium swallow in the investigation of patients with aortic arch abnormalities.