Congenital lobar emphysema: a review of 10 cases.

We reviewed the clinical features and management of 10 patients with congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) treated in our institution over a period of seven years, from September 1988 to September 1995. The age of onset of symptoms ranged from few days from birth to six months. Correct diagnosis was made in only 4 patients before referral, even though diagnosis could have been arrived at from the chest radiograph in all of them. Lobectomy was done in seven patients, while one patient had vascular ring resected. Of the three patients managed conservatively, in one lobectomy was performed at the end of 5 months conservative course as her clinical condition deteriorated during an intercurrent chest infection. Of the remaining two, one has mild episodic reactive air way disease and the other patient is asymptomatic.