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Congenital lobar emphysema
A H al-Salem1, Y Adu-Gyamfi, C S Grant
1Department of Surgery, King Fahd Hospital, University Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) in infants presents with recurrent chest infections. Surgical intervention like lobectomy offers good recovery for this rare lung condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare congenital lung malformation.
- It often presents in infancy with respiratory distress and recurrent infections.
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review three cases of congenital lobar emphysema in Saudi Arabia.
- To discuss the clinical features, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for CLE.
- To briefly outline anesthetic considerations for affected infants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of three pediatric cases diagnosed with CLE over three years.
- Diagnostic confirmation using chest X-ray.
- Surgical management (lobectomy) in two cases; non-surgical management in one.
Main Results:
- All three patients were male infants presenting with recurrent neonatal chest infections.
- Diagnosis was confirmed via chest X-ray in all cases.
- Two patients underwent successful lobectomy with good recovery; one case refused surgery.
Conclusions:
- Congenital lobar emphysema requires prompt diagnosis and appropriate management.
- Lobectomy is an effective treatment for symptomatic CLE.
- Anesthetic management should be carefully planned for these patients.
Abstract:
This paper reviews three cases of congenital lobar emphysema from Saudi Arabia, seen over a period of three years. All were boys aged 2.5, 7 and 8 months, and recurrent attacks of chest infection, which started during the early neonatal period, were the main presentation. In all cases, diagnosis was confirmed by chest x-ray. Two of them had a lobectomy and made a good recovery. Operation was refused in the third. The clinicopathological features, diagnosis and management are discussed. An outline of the anaesthetic management is also discussed briefly.