A genesis of the lung complicated by vascular compression and bronchomalacia.

A child with compression of a solitary left bronchus was treated by anterior fixation of the great vessels and dividing the ductus arteriosus, which proved ineffective. Bronchial resection was performed but was also ineffective because there was persistent compression by the aorta. Aortic graft was finally elected but the infant died later with sepsis. From this experience we believe it would be better in another similar case to graft the aorta initially if necessary to insure complete relief of bronchial compression, reserving resection of the collapsing bronchial segment as a secondary procedure should functional obstruction persist.