Diagnosis and Treatment of an Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery with Persistent Right Ligamentum Arteriosum in a Kitten

A 5-month-old, male-intact, 2.1 kg, domestic shorthair cat was referred for investigation of persistent regurgitation following the ingestion of solid food. The regurgitation was observed soon after weaning. Episodes of respiratory distress and cyanosis were also present. Segmental dilation of the esophagus cranial to cardiac was observed on survey radiographs and esophagogram. A vascular ring anomaly, namely an aberrant right subclavian artery with a normal aortic arch, was confirmed on three-dimensional (3D) reconstructed CT images. More specifically, a Type 7 vascular ring anomaly comprising an aberrant right subclavian artery and a persistent right ligamentum arteriosum with a normal left aortic arch was diagnosed. The esophageal constriction was resolved by surgical transection of the fibrous ligament.