Unilateral lung agenesis--detrimental roles of surrounding vessels

Clinical outcomes of pulmonary agenesis: A systematic review of the literature

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary agenesis is a complete absence of the pulmonary parenchyma, airways, and vasculature unilaterally or bilaterally. Although bilateral cases are lethal, the outcome of unilateral cases remains not well described. We performed a comprehensive literature review to assess the clinical features of pulmonary agenesis.

METHODS

Four database sources were searched on October 10, 2021 and two cases were included from our institution. Studies related to the clinical impact of comorbidity and intervention on the survival outcome in pulmonary agenesis were included for full-text review.

RESULTS

We identified 259 patients-with right-sided (59%), left-sided (34%), and bilateral agenesis (7%)-among 195 articles and our two cases. Additional anomalies included cardiovascular (40%), skeletal (30%), gastrointestinal (20%), tracheal (20%: all stenoses), and genitourinary (14%) anomalies. Fifty-seven (24%) individuals in unilateral pulmonary agenesis had isolated disease. Outcomes related to survival were not uniformly reported, but the 2-year overall survival rate of unilateral agenesis was 62% and no subsequent death was reported until 13 years of age. The right-sided agenesis was more frequently associated with tracheal stenosis (27% vs. 11%, p = 0.003) than the left-sided disease. A multivariable analysis indicated that tracheal stenosis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-4.1, p = 0.003) and gastrointestinal anomalies (HR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.3, p = 0.010) were prognostic factors for mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The poor prognostic factors were tracheal stenosis, right agenesis, and gastrointestinal anomalies. Treatment for these comorbidities is a key point for improving the survival of unilateral pulmonary agenesis.

A case of successful slide tracheoplasty for long-segment congenital tracheal stenosis in a neonate with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and Fallot's tetralogy

Background

Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) is a rare and life-threatening airway disorder, which is often associated with cardiac malformations. Among them, neonatal symptomatic CTS with cardiac malformations has an extremely poor prognosis. In contrast to cardiac malformation, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) has rarely been associated with CTS. We report a neonatal case in which slide tracheoplasty and intracardiac repair were performed simultaneously for CTS and Fallot’s tetralogy (TOF).

Case presentation

An infant with left CDH and Fallot's tetralogy (TOF) was born by cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation. At the time of resuscitation, a 2.5 mm (ID) endotracheal tube could only be inserted just below the vocal cords. After repairing the CDH at 3 days of age, planned extubation was performed at 7 days of age. However, the patient required re-intubation due to life-threatening episodes after 2 days of the extubation. Enhanced CT revealed a long segment CTS from the upper trachea to the right bronchus (length of stenosis: 40 mm, minimum inner diameter: 2 mm). At 24 days of age, veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was introduced due to severe respiratory failure. At 28 days of age, slide tracheoplasty and palliative right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (RVOTR) was performed with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After tracheoplasty, a 3.5 mm tracheal (ID) tube could be placed in the reconstructed trachea in a patient with CTS. ECMO was completed 7 days after the operation. On the 17th day after the operation, he was extubated successfully. He was discharged 5 months after birth with home oxygenation therapy.

Conclusions

We reported the successful simultaneous correction of slide tracheoplasty and palliative RVOTR for a neonate with CDH. ECMO was used for respiratory management before and after surgery.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40792-022-01422-9.

Management of Tracheoesophageal Fistula Repair With Cardiac Dextroposition and Right Lung Agenesis: A Case Report

Tracheoesophageal fistulae (TEF) commonly occur as part of the vertebral defects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal, and limb abnormalities (VACTERL) association. However, pulmonary agenesis is not typically seen with TEF. We report the anesthetic management of a TEF repair in a 33-week-old, 1.6-kg, monochorionic diamniotic twin with right lung agenesis, intrauterine growth restriction, and cardiac dextroposition. Due to the unique position of the heart, the patient periodically lost complete cardiac output during the exposure and repair of the esophagus.

Tailored Management of Airway Abnormalities in Children with Congenital Single Functional Lung

OBJECTIVES

Pediatric patients born with single functional lung can be associated with symptomatic airway abnormalities. Management of such patients is not only technically demanding but is also ethically challenging. This study reports our experience of managing symptomatic airway abnormalities in pediatric patients with congenital single functional lung.

METHODS

Observational retrospective cohort study performed at a tertiary children's hospital from January 2001 to September 2017. All children (0 to 18 years old) with congenital single functional lung (agenesis and hypoplasia) presenting with symptomatic airway abnormalities (long segment congenital tracheal stenosis and tracheomalacia) and requiring surgical interventions were included in the study. Children with single functional lung secondary to non-congenital causes were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients with single functional lung (agenesis=8 and hypoplasia=8) and airway abnormalities (long segment congenital tracheal stenosis=12 and tracheomalacia =4) were eligible for the study. Lung abnormalities were common on the right side (n = 10, 62.5%). Associated abnormalities (cardiac and non-cardiac) were seen in 11 patients (68.8%). Surgical interventions for airway abnormalities, alone or in combination, included slide tracheoplasty (n=12), aortopexy with or without pericardiopexy (n=7), excision of rudimentary lung (n=4) and placement of intrathoracic tissue expanders to reposition the mediastinum (n=3). Nine patients (56.3%) underwent a one-stage repair while staged repairs (airway and cardiac) were performed in 7 (43.7%). Fourteen patients (87.5%) survived to hospital discharge. Of the survivors, 9 (64.2%) had stable airways not requiring respiratory support at home.

CONCLUSION

Management of pediatric patients with airway abnormalities in the setting of congenital single functional lung is feasible with acceptable surgical outcomes. This is facilitated by staged repairs and repositioning of mediastinum before a definitive airway repair in patients with significant comorbidities. Treatment should not be deferred to these patients if there are no obvious contraindications.

TYPE OF STUDY

Retrospective Case Control Study LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Unilateral lung agenesis, hiatal hernia and atrioventricular septal defect: a rare combination of congenital anomalies

Unilateral lung agenesis is a relatively rare congenital anomaly with a reported incidence of 1 in 15 000 births. It is frequently associated with other congenital malformations. Some of the sequelae of lung agenesis are potentially life-threatening. Here, we report a case of left lung agenesis in association with hiatal hernia and atrioventricular septal defect, a rare combination of anomalies which have not been described previously in the literature.

Review of surgical and anesthetic management for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, unilateral pulmonary agenesis and dextrocardia

Association of unilateral severe pulmonary atresia or agenesis and esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and dextrocardia is a rare and highly lethal combination. We report a case of a full-term female infant who had EA with TEF, right lung agenesis, and dextrocardia. Repair of the fistula took place on day of life 3. We describe anesthetic and surgical concerns of this patient's case which are keys to a good operative outcome as well as follow-up for the patient.

The role of adjunctive procedures in reducing postoperative tracheobronchial obstruction in single lung patients with congenital tracheal stenosis undergoing slide tracheoplasty

PURPOSE

Congenital tracheal stenosis (CTS) and a single right lung treated with slide tracheoplasty (ST) has relatively high rates of mortality and morbidity. We report a single institution's experience with adjunctive procedures at the time of ST to reduce postoperative tracheal obstruction in patients with a single right lung and CTS.

METHODS

With IRB approval, 8 patients with a single right lung and CTS who underwent ST in our institution between 2008 and 2016 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Seven of 8 patients (88%) survived, with a median follow-up period of 35 (3-89) months. The only mortality was because of complications unrelated to the airway. Six of 8 patients underwent ST anterior to the aortic arch (tracheal translocation, TT). This was combined with tracheopexy concomitantly in 3 patients and subsequently in one patient. Two patients had insufficient tracheal length for TT. Both underwent aortopexy. Of three patients undergoing TT with tracheopexy concomitantly, two have been successfully extubated, and a third has required tracheostomy for subglottic stenosis. All patients undergoing TT without tracheopexy have experienced severe tracheobronchomalacia.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that adjunctive TT with tracheopexy might be associated with lower rates of tracheobronchial obstruction in patients with a single right lung undergoing ST for CTS.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

Clinical diagnostic approach to congenital agenesis of right lung with dextrocardia: a case report with review of literature

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Congenital lung agenesis is extremely rare. The aim of this article is to evaluate the clinical diagnostic approach to congenital lung agenesis with a case report.

METHODS

We described a 44-day-old male child with right pulmonary agenesis presented to us with severe respiratory distress. He was misdiagnosed as a case of foreign body bronchus at emergency room according chest X-ray. Right lung agenesis was confirmed by CT scan. Echocardiography showed dextrocardia, absence of right pulmonary artery and small atrial septal defect. Then we reviewed the related literature with Medline and Pubmed databases.

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that CT scan is the key diagnostic approach for lung agenesis and invasive diagnostic procedures and prophylactic surgery should not be done in asymptomatic cases.

Left Pulmonary Agenesis with Right Lung Bronchiectasis in an Adult

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the absence of pulmonary parenchyma and vasculature. Bilateral pulmonary agenesis is incompatible with extrauterine life. Unilateral agenesis is often associated with other congenital cardiovascular, genitourinary and gastrointestinal malformations. Right lung agenesis is more frequently associated with congenital anomalies and has poor prognosis as compared to left lung agenesis. Diagnosis is often made in childhood but can be delayed, if the clinician is not aware about this entity. Chest radiograph in unilateral lung agenesis shows opaque hemithorax and these patients are often confused with other common causes of opaque hemithorax like collapse, pleural effusion and diaphragmatic hernia. We report a case of left lung agenesis with right lung bronchiectasis in a middle-aged adult who was treated for tuberculous pleural effusion and was referred to our institute for persistent symptoms despite treatment.

Congenital tracheal stenosis: unanticipated and anticipated difficult airway management in a neonate

We present the case of a neonate with congenital tracheal stenosis (1.4-mm diameter) who came to the operating room as both an unanticipated and anticipated case of difficult airway management. We discuss the airway management of newborn children with congenital tracheal stenosis, and rescue options for the difficult airway in very small children.

Isolated unilateral pulmonary agenesis and other fetal thoracic anomalies

IMPORTANCE

Although the diagnostic workup and management regimens for many of the common fetal thoracic lesions have been well described, the understanding of pulmonary agenesis is more limited. A better understanding of the published reports of this condition is essential to provide proper care for these complicated pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE

The aims of this study were to provide a better understanding of the difficulties in the diagnosis and management of fetal thoracic lesions and to consolidate what is known about unilateral pulmonary agenesis.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

We performed a review of the English medical literature covering the last 20 years (1993-2013) in PubMed, MEDLINE, and MD Consult using search terms pulmonary agenesis, pulmonary aplasia, unilateral pulmonary agenesis, unilateral pulmonary aplasia, lung agenesis, lung aplasia, unilateral lung agenesis, and unilateral lung aplasia.

RESULTS

Prenatal diagnosis of pulmonary agenesis and other fetal thoracic lesions can be particularly challenging given that many anomalies have similar appearance on ultrasound. Fetal magnetic resonance imaging has been used in several of the reported cases to clarify the diagnosis. Once confirmed, there are several important prognostic factors to consider in the management of unilateral pulmonary agenesis. Poor prognostic factors include right-sided agenesis, the presence of genetic abnormalities, and other associated congenital anomalies.

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful imaging modality when the diagnosis is unclear after ultrasound imaging. The management of cases with a poor prognosis should be guided by the nature of the associated anomalies. Cases of isolated pulmonary agenesis have an overall good prognosis and can be managed conservatively during pregnancy, with consideration of delivery at a tertiary care facility in case postnatal respiratory issues arise.

Neonatal repair of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and lung agenesis

Here we report a neonatal case of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection with left lung agenesis. Diagnostic imaging demonstrated that the left pulmonary veins were totally absent and the right pulmonary veins connected with the common pulmonary chamber. Drainage from the common pulmonary venous chamber entered the persistent left suerior vena cava. In addition, it revealed complete absence of the left main bronchus and left lung vessels. The neonate successfully underwent surgical repair 18 days after birth.

Unilateral pulmonary agenesis: a report of four cases, two diagnosed antenatally and literature review

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare congenital malformation of lung development defined as complete absence of lung tissues, bronchi, and pulmonary vessels; it may be uni- or bilateral. The right-sided form carries the poorest prognosis due to severity of co-existent anomalies. Its diagnostic circumstances are variables: first reported cases were diagnosed at autopsy, but early postnatal as well as fortuitous discovery have been reported. In recent years, progress in obstetrical imaging has made antenatal diagnosis possible so that fetal ultrasound and MRI allow early diagnosis and refinement by permitting the elimination of differential diagnoses (diaphragmatic hernia, cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung, giant lobar emphysema, and situs inversus). This anomaly is compatible with normal life provided co-existent malformations are thoroughly investigated and managed in a multidisciplinary setting. We report four cases of lung agenesis two of which were diagnosed antenatally at 23rd and 30th weeks of gestation respectively. Our aim is to describe the circumstances having led to diagnosis and report both follow-up and outcome of our patients.

Pediatric cardiothoracic surgery in patients with unilateral pulmonary agenesis or aplasia

BACKGROUND

Unilateral pulmonary agenesis or aplasia (UPA), a rare developmental defect of the lung, is sometimes associated with congenital heart and tracheal diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess our experience of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery in UPA patients.

METHODS

Cardiothoracic surgery for congenital heart defect or tracheal stenosis performed between 1981 and 2010 in 8 UPA patients (agenesis in 5 and aplasia in 3) was reviewed retrospectively. Associated cardiac anomalies included ventricular septal defect, double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary atresia, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and interrupted aortic arch complex.

RESULTS

For 7 patients with right UPA and 1 patient with left UPA, 12 cardiothoracic operations were performed, including 8 cardiac procedures in 4 patients and 4 tracheal procedures in 4 patients. Cardiac palliative repairs included Blalock-Park anastomosis, systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt, and pulmonary artery banding. Cardiac definitive repairs included ventricular septal defect closure, subaortic membrane resection, modified Konno procedure, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection repair, and Rastelli-type operation. Tracheal repairs were costal cartilage tracheoplasty and slide tracheoplasty. The median age at surgery was 8 months and median body weight was 6.2 kg; the median operative time was 6.5 hours. There were 3 hospital deaths and 1 late death, with the 1-year mortality rate of 25%. Cardiopulmonary bypass-induced acute lung injury has occurred in 3 cases, 2 of which required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Younger age of less than 1 month and prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time of more than 200 minutes were related to operative risk factors for hospital mortality and morbidity.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the pediatric cardiothoracic operations in UPA patients were successfully performed through an optimal surgical approach and procedure, but they still presented surgical risks of high mortality and morbidity. Perioperative management of UPA patients should be provided with a precise understanding of anatomic configuration and a careful consideration of underlying risk factors.

[Right upper lobe pulmonary agenesis]

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary agenesis is a rare congenital anomaly. Other cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and urogenital system anomalies can be observed in association with it.

CASE REPORT

A 24-year-old female patient presented to our clinic with a history of cough and chest pain with an abnormal chest X-ray. Physical examination was normal. Chest X-ray, CT-Scan and endoscopy led to the diagnosis of right upper lobe pulmonary agenesis.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of pulmonary malformations like agenesis or hypoplasia can be delayed and may not occur until adulthood. Once the diagnosis has been established medical follow up is mandatory.

Prenatal diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition

BACKGROUND

Fetal unilateral lung agenesis, complicated with cardiac shifting, is a rare anomaly, the diagnosis of which remains a challenge for many sonographers in routine screening programs. The present study describes a systematic approach for the diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis and cardiac malpositions in routine prenatal screening.

METHODS

A total of 18 cases of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition were reviewed. A systematic method was proposed to identify the fetal left side and right side according to the fetal head position and posture by acquiring a long axis and transverse view of the fetus. Fetal unilateral lung agenesis was diagnosed by evaluation of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery. The diagnosis was confirmed by postnatal echocardiography, digital radiology, and computed tomography after birth or by autopsy findings.

RESULTS

The left-sided fetal heart with the cardiac apex rotating to the left and posterior were confirmed in all 7 left lung agenesis cases, while the rightward shifting of the fetal heart together with the cardiac axis deviating to the right were confirmed in all 11 cases of right lung agenesis. The disappearance of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery was confirmed in all 18 cases of unilateral lung agenesis. Cardiac anomalies were present in a total of 7 of the 18 cases of lung agenesis with 4 of 7 in cases of left lung agenesis and 3 of 11 in cases of right agenesis.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic approach introduced in the current report is helpful in the diagnosis of fetal unilateral lung agenesis complicated with cardiac malposition. The information provided by this study may be helpful to better understand unilateral lung agenesis anatomically and to facilitate its potential examination.

Agenesia pulmonar unilateral

A agenesia pulmonar é uma anomalia congênita rara. Relatamos um caso de um menino de 8 anos de idade com agenesia pulmonar à esquerda sem associação com outras malformações. O diagnóstico foi realizado por achados de imagem quando o paciente apresentou sintomas como tosse, sibilância e dispneia sem melhora do quadro clínico após evolução de 30 dias.

Developmental and genetic aspects of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a frequent occurring cause of neonatal respiratory distress and occurs 1 in every 3,000 liveborns. Ventilatory support and pharmaceutical treatment of the co-occurring lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension are insufficient in, respectively, 20% of isolated cases and 60% of complex ones leading to early perinatal death. The exact cause of CDH remains to be identified in the majority of human CDH patients and prognostic factors predicting treatment refraction are largely unknown. Their identification is hampered by the multifactorial and heterogenic nature of this congenital anomaly. However, application of high-resolution molecular cytogenetic techniques to patients' DNA now enables detection of chromosomal aberrations in 30% of the patients. Furthermore, recent insights in rodent embryogenesis pointed to a specific disruption of the early mesenchymal structures in the primordial diaphragm of CDH-induced offspring. Together, these data allowed for the introduction of new hypotheses on CDH pathogenesis, although many issues remain to be resolved. In this review, we have combined these new insights and remaining questions on diaphragm pathogenesis with a concise overview of the clinical, embryological, and genetic data available.

Right pulmonary agenesis in an elderly woman complicated by transient ischemic attack

There are few case reports regarding patients with right lung agenesis living to old age because of both severe mediastinal and cardiac displacements. We report a 61-year-old woman with right pulmonary agenesis complicated by a transient ischemic attack that was evaluated by a three-dimensional reconstruction of helical computed tomography and an echocardiography. This patient was able to survive until old age because she had no critical anomalies in other organs including the heart. A mitral valve prolapse was detected by a two-dimensional echocardiography and we treated her with anti-platelet aggregation therapy for the prevention of recurrent stroke.

Imaging of primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia: a case report

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a rare cause of neonatal dyspnea almost always secondary to other conditions. We report an exceedingly rare case of primary unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This case illustrates the role of prenatal magnetic resonance imaging when this condition is suspected during the fetal life. Combined with ultrasounds, this imaging modality offers a three-dimensional evaluation of the lungs that can be critical for postnatal medical management.