Surgical treatment of persistent esophageal compression by an unusual form of right aortic arch.

A 32-year-old woman with dysphagia due to an unusual form of right aortic arch and anomalous left subclavian artery had successful repair after two previous failures. The definitive repair was accomplished by resection of the retroesophageal portion of the right aortic arch. The continuity of the aorta was established with a prosthetic graft. The operation was performed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest.