CONSERVATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH TO A PATIENT WITH CONGENITAL LOBAR EMPHYSEMA – A CASE REPORT
ELENA GEORGIEVA *
Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Pulmonary Diseases "St. Sofia ", Sofia, Bulgaria
MARIA NEDEVSKA
University Multi-Profile Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Ekaterina”, Sofia, Bulgaria
DANIEL ILIEV
University Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Paediatric Diseases “Prof. Ivan Mitev”, Sofia, Bulgaria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Despite the huge technical possibilities for perinatal diagnostics, congenital disorders of the respiratory tract including pulmonary anomalies continue to raise difficulties concerning the differential diagnosis.
We present a case of a two-year-old boy who had a history of prolonged dry, non-productive cough, good overall condition, adequate growth and absence of lung and heart auscultatory changes. An X-ray of the lungs and a CT scan with virtual bronchographic image were performed. As a result, congenital lobar emphysema of the left upper lung lobe was diagnosed. It was caused by a slit-like narrowing of the left upper lobar bronchus. The approach with active observation turned out to be the most useful for this patient with asymptomatic emphysema.
Keywords: Congenital abnormalities, congenital lobar emphysema, treatment