Aortic arch dissection from patent ductus arteriosus.

An unusual case of aortic arch dissection from a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is described. An adult man had been diagnosed as suffering from pectus excavatum and PDA 10 years before. At that time the pectus was repaired, but he failed to return for surgery on the PDA and the sub-sternal strut for pectus repair was also never removed. Recently he was admitted in a peripheral hospital with chest infection. Patent ductus arteriosus murmur was audible on clinical examination. The chest X-ray showed a widened mediastinum and the pectus strut. On further investigations dissection of the aortic arch was discovered and arch replacement performed.