Copyright © 2025 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

@article{174278,
        author = {RUPANAGUDI TANVI and Dr Dnyanesh Kamble and Dr Meenakshi BR and Dr Santosh Kurbet},
        title = {NOT ALL AIR TRAPPING IS PNEUMOTHORAX: A CASE OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS POST-CDH WITH ACQUIRED LOBAR EMPHYSEMA},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {11},
        number = {10},
        pages = {3268-3270},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=174278},
        abstract = {Background: Acquired Lobar Emphysema (ALE) is a rare but serious condition in paediatrics, particularly in post-congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) repair cases. ALE results in progressive overinflation of a lung lobe, leading to respiratory distress, misdiagnosis as pneumothorax, and challenges in management.
Case Presentation: A 3-year-6-month-old male with a history of neonatal CDH repair and recent small bowel obstruction surgery presented with fever, cough, and respiratory distress. He developed respiratory failure with shock, requiring mechanical ventilation. Imaging initially suspected pneumothorax but later confirmed acquired lobar emphysema of the left lung with a mediastinal shift and right lung consolidation. Despite aggressive resuscitative efforts, the child succumbed to refractory septic shock, complicated by pulmonary hemorrhage, pneumonia, and ALE.
Conclusion: ALE should be considered in paediatric patients presenting with respiratory distress, particularly in those with a history of thoracic surgery or chronic lung disease. Timely differentiation from pneumothorax and early multidisciplinary intervention are critical for improving outcomes. Surgical approaches like lobectomy may be necessary when conservative measures fail.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {March},
        }