Iatrogenic, unexpected and other vascular rings in children.

Between May 1955 and July 1987, 33 children with a vascular ring compression syndrome were treated at this institution. There were 4 iatrogenic, 2 unexpectedly found and 27 symptomatic congenital vascular rings. Accurate diagnosis is based on a water soluble iodine contrast dye oesophagogram, bronchoscopy and angiography which are complementary examinations. All symptomatic congenital vascular rings were treated successfully without mortality, but the mortality was 50% if the lesion was iatrogenic in origin or unexpectedly found during palliative or corrective cardiac surgery.