Surgical resection of tension pulmonary cyst in an infant

Abstract

Tension cyst of the lung is a severe disease which causes critical respiratory and circulatory disturbance due to the increase of intrathoracic pressure induced by rapid and excessive inflation of the cyst. The disease mostly occurs during infancy and requires urgent surgical treatment because of exacerbation in many cases. A low-birth-weight infant was on an artificial ventilator at birth. On the seventh day after birth, a cyst appeared in the left lung and increased gradually. A chest radiograph showed hyperlucency of the left lung field and mediastinum shift to the right side. His circulo-respiratory condition deteriorated despite intensified treatment and, finally, he was referred to be considered for surgical treatment at the age of 7 months. Cyst resection of the lung was performed. After surgery, the residual lung expansion was favorable and preoperative symptoms improved. When a pulmonary cyst continues to increase during infancy, early surgery before cardio-pulmonary distress becomes critical is considered important.