CONGENITAL LOBAR EMPHYSEMA

Hussen, Waleed Mustafa; Alkawaz, Shatha Abdulameir; Abood, Laith Saleh

doi:10.21608/ejsur.2013.366744

CONGENITAL LOBAR EMPHYSEMA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Consultant Thoracic and Vascular Surgeon, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad,

² Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad,

³ Specialist Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, Medical City Teaching Hospital, Iraq

10.21608/ejsur.2013.366744

Abstract

Background: Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is relatively an uncommon congenital lung malformation
presenting with respiratory distress of varying severity mostly during the neonatal or the infantile period due
to air trapping in the affected lobe or lobes.
Aim: The authors review surgical experience in this congenital malformation; the simplest way of diagnosis
and the standard treatment of choice in addition to the comparison of this study with other international
studies.
Patients and Methods: Eighteen patients with congenital lobar emphysema were successfully managed
during a ten years period (1999-2008) at the Thoracic Department of the Medical City Teaching Hospital in
Baghdad, Iraq.
Results: These patients were studied according to their age, sex distribution, presenting symptoms, physical
findings, and methods of diagnosis, surgical treatment, thoracotomy findings and the postoperative outcome.
Conclusion: Though the diagnosis can be accomplished by chest X-Ray in the upright position, the use of a
more advance technology has resulted in the early identification and serial evaluation of this congenital
anomaly and the treatment of choice is surgery, as lobectomy of the involved lobe offers the best chance of
cure.

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