CONGENITAL OBSTRUCTIVE EMPHYSEMA TREATED BY LOBECTOMY

Abstract

IN THE past decade, obstructive emphysema occurring in infants and children has gained recognition as a definite clinical entity and at times a surgical emergency. Although this condition had been described before, the first successful lobectomy for obstructive emphysema in infancy was performed by Fischer, Tropea, and Bailey, in 1943.¹Since that time, there have been occasional case reports. These authors were able to find an additional 14 cases reported in the literature. Whitesell and White³reported another case in 1952. Sloan⁴reported his findings on four cases in 1953. In the discussion that followed his paper, an additional 16 cases were reported. Our case makes a total of 41 cases reported in the literature. Because this condition is of interest to both the pediatrician and the surgeon, the following case is reported. It demonstrates how well infants tolerate major thoracic surgery. It is of interest to