[Value and limits of selective bronchial obstruction in neonatal unilateral interstitial emphysema]

Two methods of selective ventilation have been used for treating severe localized pulmonary emphysema in the neonates: controlateral selective intubation and selective bronchial obstruction.

Three neonates with acute respiratory distress required respiratory support that was complicated by development of severe localized pulmonary interstitial emphysema of the right lobe (two cases) and the middle lobe (one case). Selective bronchial obstruction with a Swann Ganz catheter SF was tentatively made: in one case, improvement was moderate and transitory, requiring middle lobectomy. The localized emphysema disappeared within 3 days in the two other cases but a localized emphysema appeared in the controlateral lung in one of them, requiring left inferior lobectomy because the ineffectiveness of selective intubation or selective obstruction.

Selective bronchial obstruction may fail but this easy and well tolerated method should be tried in severe localized emphysema, specially in those patients who cannot be ventilated with high-frequency oscillation.