Pulmonary Aplasia: Report of a case

Abstract

In this article a 3-month-old male infant is presented suffering from left lung aplasia, which is associated with cardiac ventricular septal defect. In pulmonary aplasia there is one normal bronches and a small blind-ending nubbin of the opposite bronchus without any lung on the affected side. The right and left bronchi may be equally affected and association with multiple system anomalies is common. Many affected individuals are asymptomatic while others have tachypnea, dyspnea, cough, wheezing and episodes of pneumonia. Most of these patients tend to have recurring pulmonary infections. The cause is not clear. The prognosis is much better in recent years thanks to more effective antibiotic treatment of pulmonary infections. Surgical treatment is indicated when there are cardiovascular anomalies.