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Recurrent intraoperative lobar collapse
1Department of Anaesthesia, Great Ormond Street Hospital For Sick Children, London, UK.
Paediatric Anaesthesia
|June 3, 1998
Summary
A collapsed right upper lobe in an asymptomatic 12-year-old girl was incidentally discovered during anesthesia. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy successfully reexpanded the lobe, highlighting challenges in patient risk identification and consent.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Anesthesiology
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Adults and children undergoing anesthesia can experience intraoperative lung complications.
- Pulmonary atelectasis, or lung collapse, is a common intraoperative finding.
Observation:
- An asymptomatic 12-year-old girl undergoing anesthesia for angiography was incidentally found to have a collapsed right upper lobe.
- Initial attempts at reexpansion with manual ventilation and suctioning were temporarily successful, but the lobe collapsed again 15 minutes later.
Findings:
- Physiological parameters remained stable throughout the event.
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy was performed uneventfully and successfully reexpanded the collapsed lobe.
Implications:
- This case highlights the challenges in identifying pediatric patients at risk for intraoperative lung collapse.
- It underscores the need for prompt therapeutic intervention and careful consideration of informed consent in pediatric cases.
- Fiberoptic bronchoscopy is a viable treatment option for persistent intraoperative lobar atelectasis.
