Management of the upper airway and congenital cystic lung diseases in neonates

A 9-year audit of fetal chest masses in an Australian maternal-fetal medicine cohort

Introduction

To assess fetal vs. neonatal diagnoses, pregnancy outcomes and need for surgery in babies prenatally diagnosed with congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) or bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS).

Methods

Retrospective single-centre cohort study of fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of CPAM or BPS between 2006 and 2014. Data collected included serial antenatal ultrasound information and neonatal/infant diagnoses and outcomes.

Results

Initial ultrasound diagnosis (n = 63) was CPAM in 51 and BPS in 12: nineteen (30%) fetuses had mediastinal shift and 2 (3%) had hydrops. All neonates with known birth outcome (n = 56) were liveborn. Final diagnosis in 52 infants (83%) with neonatal imaging and/or histopathology confirmed CPAM in 17/44 (39%) and BPS in 6/9 (67%). Of 34 prenatally suspected but unconfirmed CPAM lesions: 10 had no lesion on neonatal imaging, one no neonatal imaging performed, five confirmed BPS, 11 other lung/thoracic lesions, seven were lost to follow-up. There was one infant death. 27/63 infants (43%) had post-natal surgery. More neonates requiring neonatal respiratory support/resuscitation had surgery compared to those who did not (67% vs. 29%, P = 0.008). Patients with suspected CPAM or BPS on both initial and final ultrasound were more likely to have post-natal surgical management than when a lesion was no longer visible on final antenatal ultrasound (68% vs. 23%, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Over 50% of antenatally suspected CPAM/BPS either regressed or had an alternate post-natal diagnosis. Perinatal outcome was good, with the majority of neonates/infants conservatively managed. Persistently visible antenatal lesion and need for neonatal respiratory support predicted ultimate surgical management.

Emergent airway management in the labor and delivery suite

INTRODUCTION

Congenital airway obstruction is of varied etiology and uncommonly encountered. Prenatal care and imaging have enhanced detection of these abnormalities and allow for multi-disciplinary care planning for airway management at delivery. Despite the availability and advances in prenatal imaging, unanticipated airway obstruction may not be identified until the time of delivery.

METHODS

Case series.

RESULTS

Four airway emergencies were encountered in the labor and delivery suite over an eight-month period. Clinical history is correlated with autopsy findings. Congenital upper airway and laryngotracheal anomalies are reviewed. Recommendations to improve timely and efficient airway management in the labor and delivery suite are discussed and a protocol for a multi-disciplinary neonatal emergency airway response team is offered for consideration.

CONCLUSIONS

The development and implementation of a multi-disciplinary emergency newborn airway protocol is both realistic and feasible. While it did not improve survivability in our small group, it did reduce response time. It, or a protocol like it, is recommended for institutions caring for high-risk pregnancies and with Neonatal Intensive Care Units with high acuity patients.

Pulmonary sequestration of the left upper lobe associated with a bronchogenic cyst: case report of an exceptional association

Intralobar pulmonary sequestration (ILPS) and bronchogenic cyst are rare congenital diseases. We present the first case of the association between an ILPS located in the upper lobe and a bronchogenic cyst. This association has been discovered antenatally in a girl. The cystic lesion has been shown by a fetal MRI and confirmed by a CT scan at 3 weeks of life. She underwent a left upper lobectomy by thoracoscopy at the age of 5 months. Postoperative course was uneventfull. This case confirms the congenital origin of pulmonary sequestration and shows the interest of an early surgery.