Percutaneous evacuation of diffuse pulmonary interstitial emphysema by lung puncture in a baby with extremely low birth weight: a case report

• Main Authors: Watanabe Masahiro, Momoi Nobuo, Sato Maki, Go Hayato, Imamura Takashi, Kaneko Masatoshi, Hosoya Mitsuaki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2012-09-01
• Series: Journal of Medical Case Reports
• Subjects: Lung puncture; Pulmonary interstitial emphysema; Baby with extremely low birth weight
• Online Access: http://www.jmedicalcasereports.com/content/6/1/325

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Pulmonary interstitial emphysema is a serious complication of mechanical ventilation and can become life-threatening if progression occurs. Therapeutic lung puncture is a treatment option for severe pulmonary interstitial emphysema but has a limited use in babies with extremely low birth weight. We present a case of pulmonary interstitial emphysema in a Japanese baby (1-day-old) boy with extremely low birth weight. The emphysema was successfully decompressed by therapeutic lung puncture performed with a trocar catheter.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>The baby was born with a weight of 420g, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the lowest reported birth weight among babies with pulmonary interstitial emphysema. A chest X-ray on postnatal day 2 revealed pulmonary interstitial emphysema, which gradually progressed to diffuse pseudocystic changes. His condition became life-threatening despite the use of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and lateral decubitus positioning. We evacuated the pulmonary interstitial emphysema by lung puncture with a trocar catheter to avoid respiratory and cardiovascular collapse. This resulted in adequate evacuation of the emphysema and a dramatic improvement in his clinical condition.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Therapeutic lung puncture performed with a trocar catheter is beneficial in babies with extremely low birth weight and diffuse pulmonary interstitial emphysema. This treatment option may be broadly applicable, especially in an emergency situation.</p>