Pulmonary function tests leading to the diagnosis of vascular ring in an infant.

A 5-month-old baby was referred to our pulmonary clinic because of chronic cough and wheeze, unresponsive to antiasthmatic treatment. Examination in the Infant Pulmonary Function Laboratory suggested an upper airway obstruction. An aberrant right subclavian artery was subsequently confirmed by a barium swallow, flexible bronchoscopy, and an angiographic reconstructed chest CT study. Due to modest symptoms a conservative medical approach was taken. At follow-up 1 year later, the patient had fewer respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.