Background: In this study, we aimed to present the outcomes of surgical treatment performed on nine pediatric patients with congenital lobar emphysema (CLE).

Methods: Between March 1996 and February 2011, nine children (5 boys, 4 girls; mean age 19.9 months; range 40 days-6 years) diagnosed with CLE who underwent pulmonary resection in our clinic were retrospectively analyzed. The symptoms, localization of the emphysematous lobe, diagnostic work-up, treatment modality, morbidity and mortality rates, and length of hospital stay were reviewed.

Results: Dyspnea was present in all of the patients, but it was severe in four patients. Emphysema was detected in the right middle lobe in three patients, the left upper lobe in three patients, the right upper lobe in one patient, and the left lower lobe in one patient. In the ninth and final patient, both the upper and middle right lobes were diseased. For all of the patients, the affected lobes with congenital emphysema were resected. None had postoperative morbidity or mortality, and the mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 5.8 days (range, 3-7 days).

Conclusion: Pulmonary resection in children is a treatment modality for CLE with low morbidity and mortality rates that eliminates the disease rapidly, safely and completely.

Keywords : Child; congenital lobar emphysema; pulmonary resection