LOBECTOMY A LIFELINE FOR CONGENITAL LOBAR EMPHYSEMA. A TWO DECADES EXPERIENCE OF A TEACHING HOSPITAL.

J Peop Univ Med Health Sci. 2025:15(3), 93-100. http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2025/15.03.663

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Respiratory complications in children are a severe clinical issue that will tend to
develop early in life and, in most instances, will require surgical interventions. The symptomatology,
the lobar involvement, and the consequences of the postoperative aspect are also important to
understand to improve the management strategies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess
the clinical presentation, lobar involvement, outcome of surgery and complications in patients who
had respiratory conditions, and whose course was managed in early childhood. METHODS: The
present retrospective study focuses on the pediatric CLE patients who have already undergone
lobectomy in the Nishtar Medical University Hospital during the period 2005 to 2024. Demographic
data, clinical history, surgical complications and outcome data were obtained. Each of them had a
standard posterolateral thoracotomy. The data were analyzed using SPSS 27 with chi-square, where p
0.05 was taken to be significant. RESULTS: There were 68 patients, 90% of the patients were
introduced before six months old, and 60.3% were male. The most common one was the left upper
lobe (37 cases), then the right middle lobe (16 cases), and the right upper lobe (9 cases). In 66.2 % of
cases, histopathology showed a deficiency of bronchial cartilage. There was no reported
intraoperative mortality. The number of postoperative complications was low, with atelectasis (7.4%)
and wound infection (4.4%) being the most prevalent ones. The vast majority of patients (85.3%)
were cured without any complications, and the average hospitalization was 7.6 +-2.1 days.
CONCLUSION: Early presentation and favorable surgical outcomes emphasize the importance of
timely intervention, effective postoperative care, and continued research on risk factors influencing
complications.