[Congenital lobular emphysema. Eight case reports]

Tunis Med. 2003 Jan;81(1):38-47.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We have conducted a retrospective study about 8 infants having CLE and who were hospitalised for 11 years in the Pediatric department of Sfax university hospital (1989-1999). The average age of these patients having revealing symptoms ranges from birth to 8 months, with an average age of 2 months and 3 weeks. During the neo-natal period (< 1 month), the disease was found among 35.5% of the patients. The discovery circumstances are represented by a permanent dyspnea in 4 cases, repetitive bronchopneumopathies with paroxystic dyspnea in 2 cases, a prolonged bronchopneumopathy in one case and a whooping cough in one case. The pre-operatory diagnosis was suspected on the chest-radiography in all cases and on the chest scanner in 7 cases. All patients have undergone a surgical treatment. The anatomy-pathological exam has confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. The immediate post-operatory results were simple in all the 8 cases and the long-term evolution has shown minor respiratory and orthopedic defects only in one patient aged 8 at present. The CLE is a lung-malformation often responsible for serious respiratory problems. The symptomatic forms should be operated very early because the ulterior "prognosis" depends on the patient's age at the moment of the surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dyspnea, Paroxysmal / etiology*
  • Dyspnea, Paroxysmal / pathology
  • Emphysema / complications
  • Emphysema / congenital*
  • Emphysema / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases
  • Male
  • Prognosis
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / etiology
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies