Congenital lobar emphysema - Tube thoracostomy not the treatment

A 23-month-old boy was transferred to our facility after being diagnosed with a right-sided pneumothorax in an outlying hospital emergency department. The patient's primary complaint was a nonproductive cough and runny nose. Vital signs were stable with 98% oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry. Physical examination was unremarkable except for diminished breath sounds on the right. Chest x-ray revealed a large lucency over the right lung field, yet an intact vascular pattern. Computed tomography scan of the chest revealed congenital lobar emphysema of the right upper lobe. The pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of congenital lobar emphysema are reviewed.