The autopsy revealed severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in the lungs, along with secondary pulmonary heart disease. The infant had received a tracheotomy to enable his survival. The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was acute cardiac and pulmonary failure due to severe BPD and not to mechanical asphyxia. The perilaryngeal lymph nodes were also significantly enlarged and closely surrounded the vagus bilaterally. The findings suggested that such cervical lymphadenopathy could have resulted in the mechanical compression of the vagus upon movement of the neck. Findings indicated that anatomical examination of the cervical portion of the vagus and its path may be of great significance when analyzing the cause of death in cases of sudden infant death. Photographs and 12 references (Author abstract modified)