An interrupted aortic arch (IAA) is an abnormality of the major artery of the body, the aorta. When an aortic arch is interrupted, it means that at some point along the curve, the part going up (ascending aorta) ends and is not attached to the part going down (descending aorta). This means that the heart cannot send blood through the aorta to the lower body.
There are three types of IAAs:
- Type A: The interruption happens just past the left subclavian artery. Up to 30 to 40% of infants with IAA have type A.
- Type B: The interruption happens between the left carotid artery and the left subclavian artery. Type B is the most common type of IAA, accounting for about 53% of reported cases.
- Type C: The interruption happens between the innominate artery and the left carotid artery. Type C is the least common type, representing about 4% of reported cases.
The specialists at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine — the leading provider of pediatric heart care in Louisville and Southern Indiana — can help your child with an interrupted aortic arch.
The board-certified and fellowship-trained specialists at Norton Children’s Heart Institute have the skills and experience to provide a pinpoint diagnosis and develop a customized treatment plan for you and your child — for life.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons has rated Norton Children’s Heart Institute’s pediatric heart care among the best in the region. Norton Children’s has a network of outreach diagnostic and treatment services throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana.