Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Cardiol. Apr 26, 2026; 18(4): 118546
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v18.i4.118546
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v18.i4.118546
Vascular rings in a tertiary care center: A retrospective review of clinical presentations and interventions
Jad Abdul Khalek, Karim Kanbar, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Beyrouth, Lebanon
Rana Zareef, Mohammad Hussein Alzein, Fadi Fouad Bitar, Mariam Toufic Arabi, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut 1103, Beyrouth, Lebanon
Issam El-Rassi, Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital, Dubai 0000, United Arab Emirates
Co-first authors: Jad Abdul Khalek and Karim Kanbar.
Author contributions: Abdul Khalek J and Kanbar K contribute equally to this study as co-first authors; Abdul Khalek J, Kanbar K, Zareef R, and Alzein MH contributed to the study design, data collection, manuscript drafting, and statistical analysis; El-Rassi I contributed to the creation of figures, data interpretation, and clinical insights; Bitar FF and Arabi MT were responsible for significant data acquisition, manuscript writing, and the final revision of the manuscript; all authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Institutional review board statement: This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the American University of Beirut Medical Center (Approval No: BIO-2025-0296).
Informed consent statement: The need for patient consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Corresponding author: Mariam Toufic Arabi, MD, Associate Professor, Chief Physician, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Maamari Street, Beirut 1103, Beyrouth, Lebanon.
Received: January 5, 2026
Revised: January 28, 2026
Accepted: February 25, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 99 Days and 7.5 Hours
Revised: January 28, 2026
Accepted: February 25, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 99 Days and 7.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Vascular rings are rare congenital aortic arch anomalies that frequently present with nonspecific respiratory and feeding symptoms, leading to delayed diagnosis. This single-center retrospective study provides a comprehensive clinical and surgical overview of pediatric vascular rings, distinguished by extensive multimodal imaging. High-quality transthoracic echocardiography, three-dimensional computed tomography angiography, and selective angiography clearly demonstrate anatomical subtypes and airway relationships. These detailed visual findings, combined with favorable surgical outcomes, emphasize the diagnostic value of advanced imaging and reinforce the importance of early recognition and timely intervention.