Acute respiratory distress secondary to severe compression of the left main bronchus by the ductus arteriosus

Two newborn infants presented with acute respiratory distress. In both cases, the left lung was opaque, hyperinflated, and associated with a rightward shift of the mediastinum. A diagnosis of retained fetal fluid secondary to vascular compression of the left bronchus by the ductus arteriosus was made by combining various imaging methods including chest radiograph, computed tomography (CT), and echocardiography. Although the initial chest radiographs were similar, the mechanisms of obstruction were different. The imaging emphasizes the importance of CT angiography to understanding the three-dimensional relationships resulting in bronchial compression.