[Cardiovascular disorders with respiratory distress in childhood]

Because of their low prevalence cardiovascular abnormalities are an easily overlooked cause of persistent respiratory distress in childhood. A review is presented of the most common cardiovascular disorders that give rise to respiratory distress by compression of the airway at various levels. At tracheal level the double aortic arch and the aberrant right subclavian artery are the most frequent anomalies. Bronchial compression is mostly due to left to right shunting through either a persistent ductus arteriosus or a ventricular septal defect. Compression of the lung parenchyma itself is in most cases caused by dilatation of the left ventricle. Anatomy, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy of the cardiovascular disorders are described.