[Aberrant left pulmonary artery and acute respiratory insufficiency in infants].

The aberrant left pulmonary artery is a rare disease, producing severe respiratory failure in the neonatal period and early infancy. The diagnosis is easy and mainly done by X-ray. Although the main diagnostic procedure continues to be an elective angiography in the main pulmonary artery, the diagnosis may be confirmed by a contrast computerised axial tomography. It is necessary to use the classic tomography to rule out any associated tracheobronchial anomalies, and thus avoid other dangerous diagnostic procedures such as bronchoscopy and bronchography. Having reviewed previous publications, two cases are presented, one, being exceptional with left lung emphysema.