Bronchoscopic treatment of pediatric atelectasis: A modified segmental insufflation-surfactant instillation technique

Atelectasis is a condition characterized by the collapse and nonaeration of lung regions and is considered a manifestation of an underlying disease process. The goal of atelectasis treatment is the restoration of volume loss. In the range of different treatment options, chest physiotherapy is often used as a first-line approach, and some cases require bronchoscopic interventions.

In this case series, we describe a modified bronchoscopic treatment procedure using pressure-controlled bronchoscopic segmental insufflation with surfactant application.

The proposed approach resulted in significant improvement of lung volume across a range of patients including massive lobar, atypical rounded atelectasis in previously healthy patients, and in a particularly challenging case involving an infant suffering from spinal muscular atrophy type I.

The modified segmental insufflation-surfactant instillation technique offers a safe and promising easily implementable treatment of persistent atelectasis caused by different underlying disease processes with positive long-term outcomes.