ABSTRACT
Abnormalities of the aortic arch are rare congenital anomalies commonly known as vascular rings, a term coined by Gross in 1945. The first report of a vascular ring was by Hommel in 1737, who described a double aortic arch. The first successful treatment of a vascular ring was by Gross in 1945 for a right aortic arch with left ligamentum. He also performed the first innominate artery “pexy” to the sternum for innominate artery compression syndrome in 1948. Recent advances for the most part have been in non-invasive diagnostic imaging.
