Interruption of the aortic arch with right descending aorta. A rare condition and a cause of bronchial compression.

Four cases of interruption of the aortic arch with the rare association of right ductus arteriosus and right descending aorta are described. Three different variations in subclavian arterial origin are described. Each represents a mirror image of anatomic arrangements previously reported for interruption of the aortic arch with left descending aorta. One of the cases demonstrated massive emphysema of the right lung resulting from compression of the right main bronchus by the enlarged right ductus arteriosus. Another case documented unusually long survival (26 years) of a patient with interruption of the aortic arch and ventricular septal defect.