Dysphagia lusorum in children

G. R. Martin, C. Rudolph, C. Hillemeier and M. B. Heyman

The association of difficulty in swallowing and an aberrant right subclavian artery is termed dysphagia lusorum. Dysphagia lusorum has been reported not to occur in children. We describe four children who had difficulty swallowing and aberrant right subclavian arteries. Esophageal manometry showed high pulsatile pressure in the area of the aberrant right subclavian artery in each child (12 to 100 mm Hg). Three of the four children underwent surgical correction, and their symptoms resolved. Postoperatively, esophageal manometric findings were normal. We conclude that dysphagia lusorum occurs in children and esophageal manometry shows persistently increased intraesophageal pressure, causing a functional partial obstruction in symptomatic children with dysphagia lusorum.