Flexible Bronchoscopy Findings in Children with Congenital Lobar
Emphysema: 8-Year Data from a Single Center Study
Abstract
Introduction:Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare developmental
lung malformation that involves the hyperaeration of one or more lung
lobes due to partial obstruction and occurs at a rate of
1/20,000–30,000 live births.Here,we aimed to retrospectively examine
the clinical, radiological, and bronchoscopy findings of patients with
CLE who were diagnosed and treated with surgical or conservative
approaches in our clinic to compare our results with those in the
literature. Method:We examined the clinical, and radiological data and
FB findings of the patients with CLE aged 0–18 years at our center
between 2013 and 2020.We also examined the symptoms and findings
recorded during the patients’ follow-up. Results:.The median age of 20
patients with CLE at diagnosis was 3.2 years (range, 1 day–17
years).Respiratory distress and mediastinal shift were more prominent in
the patients who underwent surgery than the patients who were followed
up conservatively and diagnosed at an early age (p = 0.001, p = 0.049, p
= 0.001, respectively). Discussion: In line with studies in the
literature, the pulmonary symptoms and CLE-related imaging findings in
our study regressed during the conservative follow-up.We recommend
clinicians consider performing a detailed anamnesis for patients with
unresolved respiratory symptoms and unilateral or bilateral increased
ventilation,along with appropriate imaging tests and examinations, and
should consider CLE in the diagnosis.