Congenital lobar emphysema: Anesthetic challenges and their management options

Abstract

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare cause of sudden respiratory distress in infants. It poses a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Hyperinflation and progressive air trapping causes expansion of the affected lobe leading to compression of other lung tissue, mediastinal shifting, and impaired venous return. We report a case of a 5 weeks old male infant with CLE. The left upper lobectomy was performed under general anesthesia with intercostal nerve block and pressure control ventilation. The anesthetic challenges and various management options are discussed here.

Keywords

• Congenital lobar emphysema
• hyperinflation
• mediastinal shift
• single-lung ventilation