Persistence of ventilatory defect after resolution of pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a preterm baby

Abstract

Pulmonary interstitial emphysema is a common complication of mechanical ventilation in preterm babies. We report a case of severe unilateral pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a premature newborn, treated with high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, lateral decubitus positioning and selective intubation. After complete radiological resolution of the pulmonary emphysema in the left lung, the patient was studied by electrical impedance tomography and a marked reduction of ventilation was identified in the left lung despite radiological resolution of the cysts. This finding indicates that functional abnormalities may persist for longer periods after radiologic resolution of such lesions.

Keywords:

• Pulmonary interstitial emphysema
• neonate
• electrical impedance tomography

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Inéz Frerichs and Dr. Alan H. Jobe for the helpful assistance in reviewing the manuscript. The authors also thank Dr. Marcelo Brito Passos Amato for the helpful advices concerning EIT procedure and interpretation.