Vertebral Grand Larceny

Abstract
A case is presented of atresia of the aortic arch between the left common carotid artery proximally and the left subclavian artery and a patent ductus arteriosus distally. Collateral circulation including a pathway via the vertebral arteries maintained an adequate mean pressure in the descending aorta to produce a left-to-right shunt in the patent ductus, despite an elevated pulmonary arterial pressure.