Aneurysm of the ascending aorta presenting with pulmonary stenosis.

The symptoms and signs of aneurysms of the thoracic aorta are due mainly to compression of surrounding mediastinal structures and depend on the size and location of the aneurysm. Compression of the trachea, bronchi, oesophagus, recurrent laryngeal nerve, bone, and superior vena cava is common, but pressure on the pulmonary artery has not been described in spite of its intimate relation to the ascending aorta. The object of this paper is to describe a case presenting in this way and to discuss the particular surgical problems involved in the excision of such an aneurysm.