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    Vascular rings
    Diagnosis and treatment

    By Mayo Clinic Staff
    March 11, 2025
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    Diagnosis

    To diagnose a vascular ring, a healthcare professional does a physical exam and asks questions about the symptoms.

    Tests

    Tests to diagnose a vascular ring may include:

    • Chest X-ray. A chest X-ray is a picture of the heart and lungs. It can show changes in the windpipe that might suggest a vascular ring. The test also can tell which side of the body the aortic arch is on.
    • Other imaging tests. These may include an echocardiogram, a CT angiogram or an MRI scan. Healthcare professionals can use these tests to plan treatment.
    • Barium swallow. This test involves swallowing a liquid called barium. X-rays show how the liquid moves from the mouth to the stomach. The test can show changes in the structure of the esophagus that may be caused by a vascular ring.
    • Upper endoscopy. A long, flexible tube with a camera is used to look at the esophagus. The device is called an endoscope. The healthcare professional inserts it through the mouth and into the throat. A tiny camera at the tip sends pictures to a video screen.
    • Bronchoscopy. In this test, a healthcare professional inserts a small, flexible tube through the mouth or nose into the lungs. A light and a small camera attached to the tube show the inside of the windpipe and the lungs' airways. This test can tell if a vascular ring is pushing against the trachea.

    Treatment

    Surgery usually is done to treat a vascular ring that presses against the trachea or esophagus. Surgery also helps prevent complications.

    During surgery, the surgeon splits the vascular ring to stop the blood vessel from pressing against the windpipe and food pipe. Depending on the type of vascular ring, one of the branches off the aorta may need to be moved. The specific type of surgery depends on the type of heart conditions present.

    People born with vascular rings need regular health checkups for life to prevent complications. It's best to be cared for by a healthcare professional trained in congenital heart conditions. These types of doctors are called congenital cardiologists.
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