Illusions leading to surgical closure of the distal left pulmonary artery instead of the ductus arteriosus.

Illusions, in a collected series of 10 cases, have led to the surgical closure of the distal left pulmonary artery instead of the patent ductus. When the rare, anatomically atypical patent ductus arises from the arch proximal to the subclavian artery, the recurrent laryngeal nerve is found passing under the arch instead of under the ductus. A large ductus creating the illusion of the arch, with the nerve beneath it, can lead to the impression of an anatomically atypical ductus with the resultant surgical closure of the distal left pulmonary in lieu of the ductus. For over two decades the problem has been a recurring one which deserves recognition among the better known complications of ductus operations.