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Childhood recurrent pneumonia caused by endobronchial sutures: A case report
Yiheng Zan1, Hanmin Liu, Lin Zhong
1West China Medical School of Sichuan University Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
Insights
Recurrent pneumonia in a child was caused by surgical sutures, a previously unreported etiology. Early bronchoscopy is crucial for diagnosing such cases in children with persistent respiratory issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Surgical Complications
Background:
- Recurrent pneumonia is defined as >2 episodes/year or ≥3 episodes lifetime.
- Common causes include anatomical defects, immunodeficiency, and congenital heart disease.
Observation:
- A school-aged girl experienced recurrent pneumonia post-trachea repair surgery.
- Bronchoscopy identified granulation tissue around sutures in the left main bronchus.
Findings:
- Surgical sutures were identified as the cause of recurrent pneumonia.
- Symptom resolution occurred after suture removal.
Implications:
- This case highlights surgical sutures as a rare cause of recurrent pneumonia in children.
- Detailed evaluation, including bronchoscopy, is recommended for children with late-onset recurrent pneumonia.
Background:
Recurrent pneumonia is defined as more than two episodes of pneumonia in one year or three or more episodes anytime in life. Common clinical scenarios leading to recurrent pneumonia include anatomical abnormalities of respiratory tract, immunodeficiency, congenital heart diseases, primary ciliary dyskinesia, etc.
Case Report:
A school-aged girl suffered from 1-2 episodes of pneumonia each year after trachea connection and lung repair operation resulted from an accident of car crash. Bronchoscopy revealed the sutures twisted with granulation in the left main bronchus and the patient's symptoms relieved after removal of the sutures. Here we report for the first time that surgical suture was the cause of recurrent pneumonia.
Conclusions:
This case indicates that children with late and recurrent onset of pneumonia should undergo detailed evaluation including bronchoscopy.
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