Right aortic arch fetal echo

What is a Right Aortic Arch (RAA)?Right aortic arch (RAA) is an anatomic variant of the Aorta, the great blood vessel that carries blood from the heart toward the body and brain. In most people, the aorta forms an arch to the left of the trachea (the windpipe). In RAA, the aortic arch is on the right of the trachea.How does a RAA happen?Isolated RAA occurs in about 1 in 1000 babies. The exact cause is not known. Almost 20% of the babies with a RAA will have other problems, most often with their heart. One in 10 babies with RAA has an alteration in their chromosomes. Chromosomes are where most of our genetic information is stored. The chromosomal abnormality most commonly associated with RAA is Di George syndrome, where a small fragment of chromosome 22q11.2 is missing. This is called a microdeletion.