Giant congenital aortic aneurysm with cleft sternum in a neonate: pathological and surgical considerations for optimal management

We report a rare case of a neonate with congenital giant aortic aneurysm associated to cleft sternum, who underwent surgical repair. The patient died on postoperative Day 5 from cardiac arrest. Autopsy revealed a circumferential subendocardial myocardial infarction and misdiagnosed coronary ostial anomalies. A critical analysis of this unfortunate case may help optimal surgical planning in similar patients in the future.