CASE REPORTS   

Minerva Pediatrica 2009 April;61(2):227-30

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Left pneumonectomy and expandable prosthesis placement for pleuropulmonary blastoma in a infant: one year follow-up

Ceccarelli P. L., Repetto P., Bianchini M. A., Durante V., Biondini D., Cacciari A.

Department of Pediatric Surgery Modena Policlinic University Hospital Modena, Italy

Pneumonectomy is a rare procedure in pediatric age. In contrast to adults, children that undergo this intervention are prone to postoperative mediastinal shift, which leads to bronchial stretching resulting in severe respiratory failure. This postpneumonectomy syndrome can be corrected by inserting a prosthesis in the empty side of the chest. The authors present the case of a 9-month-old infant affected with a pleuropulmonary blastoma who underwent left pneumonectomy and prosthesis placement in the same operation.