Dysphagia lusoria: a case study

Abstract

Dysphagia lusoria is described in the literature as difficulty swallowing because of a "jest of nature." The "jest of nature" is a birth defect encompassing any aortic root vascular anomaly that causes esophageal dysphagia. Persons with dysphagia lusoria can be categorized according to their specific subclavian anomaly (ie, depending on the presence of an aneurysm, occlusive disease, or esophageal compression). All patients with this anomaly have an aberrant subclavian artery in a transposed position that courses posterior to the esophagus. The operative approach to repair this condition has been controversial. An extrathoracic approach is documented as superior to a repair involving thoracotomy because there is decreased rate of complications that may be associated with a thoracotomy and greater visibility of the subclavian and carotid artery. This case study describes a 25-year-old woman with dysphagia lusoria related to an aberrant right subclavian artery. The report includes a literature review and describes the perioperative approach and nursing care. The use of the preadmission and same-day admission services are supported as is an extrathoracic surgical approach. At follow-up this patient reported no symptoms of dysphagia and showed no evidence of esophageal compression confirming that persons with symptomatic dysphagia lusoria can be managed with positive long-term results.