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Ipsilateral lobar emphysema in an infant with a repaired congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Joseph Sykes1, Derrick McQueen, Lakshmi Vaithilingham
1Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark, NJ, USA. jsykes@sbhcs.com
Insights
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia survivors may rarely develop lobar emphysema, leading to respiratory failure. Surgical intervention, such as lobectomy, can successfully treat this condition in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Respiratory Medicine
- Thoracic Pathology
Background:
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a serious birth defect requiring prompt surgical repair.
- Postnatal respiratory complications can arise even after successful CDH repair.
Observation:
- A 9-month-old infant, previously treated for CDH, presented with severe respiratory failure.
- Imaging revealed massive hyperinflation of the right lung with ventilation-perfusion defects.
Findings:
- The infant was diagnosed with lobar emphysema affecting the right lung.
- Surgical lobectomy was performed to address the hyperinflation and respiratory compromise.
Implications:
- Lobar emphysema is a rare but significant potential complication in infants with a history of CDH.
- Early diagnosis and surgical management are crucial for successful outcomes in these complex cases.
Objective:
To report a case of lobar emphysema in an infant who had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia that was surgically repaired at birth.
Design:
Case report.
Setting:
Pediatric critical care unit in a tertiary care hospital.
Patient:
A 9-month-old infant who had massive hyperinflation of the right lung and respiratory failure.
Interventions:
Confirmation of lobar hyperinflation of the right lung with ventilation and perfusion defects and surgical treatment with lobectomy.
Measurements And Main Results:
Successful treatment of respiratory failure.
Conclusion:
Lobar emphysema can be a rare development in patients who had a congenital diaphragmatic hernia at birth. This can result in respiratory failure and needs surgical intervention.
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