Congenital Lobar Emphysema Developing Massive Hemoptysis in Adulthood Treated by Thoracoscopic Lobectomy

Abstract

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) is a rare developmental lung disorder characterized by lobar hyperinflation secondary to bronchopulmonary obstruction. Half of patients are symptomatic at birth, with many requiring urgent or emergent surgical resection to treat respiratory distress. Meanwhile, patients achieving late childhood or adolescence without symptoms usually never require surgery. We present a case of a 26 year old otherwise healthy female with known CLE who developed massive hemoptysis and required urgent videoscopic (VATS) resection of her right lung upper lobe. We know of no other report of CLE causing life-threatening bleeding at any age, and herein review pathology and pathophysiology of the condition.