The surgery of pulmonary artery "sling"

Two consecutive infants with pulmonary artery sling underwent successful surgical repair utilizing a median sternotomy for surgical exposure and adjunctive aortopexy. Bronchoscopy demonstrated severe tracheomalacia in both patients which was corrected under direct bronchoscopic control. Median sternotomy (rather than recommended left thoracotomy) provided perfect exposure of the pulmonary artery at its bifurcation thus permitting easy reconstruction of pulmonary artery. Aortopexy eliminated postoperative respiratory symptoms. Both patients are well.