Neonatal ductus arteriosus aneurysm causing nerve palsies and airway compression: Surgical treatment by decompression without excision

A 4-kg male child, born at 34 weeks to a gestational diabetic mother, had a large ductus arteriosus aneurysm causing phrenic and recurrent laryngeal n erve palsies and large airway compression. The right and left atrial append ages and distal descending aorta were cannulated, allowing left heart parti al or complete cardiopulmonary bypass as necessary. On bypass the ductus wa s ligated, decompressed, and oversewn but not excised. Examination 1 month later suggested resolution of the recurrent laryngeal palsy and echocardiog raphy showed regression of the aneurysm. Ductus ligation and decompression was an effective surgical treatment, which is less likely to cause complica tions than resection.