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Published on: March 6, 2019
Bilateral congenital lobar emphysema: how should we proceed?
Shreesha Maiya1, Jane R Clarke, Bharat More
1Department of Respiratory Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Insights
Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) in infants can cause respiratory distress. This case study details the successful surgical removal of affected lung lobes in a 4-week-old male infant.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare congenital lung malformation.
- It can lead to severe respiratory distress in neonates and infants.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Observation:
- A 4-week-old male infant presented with progressive respiratory distress.
- Chest X-ray revealed bilateral congenital lobar emphysema.
- The infant required prompt surgical management.
Findings:
- Sequential surgical resection was performed.
- Left upper lobectomy was completed first.
- Right middle lobectomy was subsequently performed.
Implications:
- This case highlights a successful surgical strategy for bilateral CLE.
- Sequential lobectomy can be an effective treatment option.
- Management of CLE requires careful surgical planning and execution.
Abstract:
We report a case of a 4-week-old male infant who presented with increasing respiratory distress and was diagnosed to have bilateral congenital lobar emphysema on chest x-ray. Our approach to the surgical management in two sequential operations of left upper lobectomy followed by right middle lobectomy is discussed.
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