Ductus arteriosus aneurysm in infancy.

An infant with symptoms of congestive heart failure at 6 months of age was found by cardiac catheterization at the age of 1 year to have a fusiform aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus as well as discrete stenosis of the left pulmonary artery and a secundum atrial septal defect. The aneurysm was resected, and a pericardial patch angioplasty corrected the peripheral pulmonary stenosis. The atrial septal defect was closed in a separate procedure. To our knowledge, this case is one of four ductal aneurysms reported in infants that have been diagnosed before operation and successfully treated. The pathophysiology and literature are reviewed.