Flexible bronchoscopy in the management of congenital lobar emphysema in the neonate.

This paper describes the case of a 3 kg neonate who had congenital lobar emphysema of the left upper lobe (LUL). He was in severe respiratory distress with a fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.8. Chest x-ray showed hyperlucent expanded left hemithorax and marked mediastinal shift. Following flexible bronchoscopy and introduction of ultrathin bronchoscope into the LUL bronchus, symptoms and chest x-ray improved markedly. Flexible bronchoscopy resulted in emergency relief of his initial respiratory distress, and left upper lobe lobectomy was performed electively three days later.