Congenital lobar emphysema

Congenital lobar emphysema is a rare developmental abnormality characterized by overinflation of one or more of the pulmonary lobes. This disease presents as respiratory distress because of the ventilation perfusion mismatch as a result of the hyperinflated lung causing compression atelectasis on the ipsilateral or contralateral side with mediastinal shift. Surgical resection of the affected lobes is indicated in both, unless symptoms resolve with conservative therapy. Here, we present a 40-day-old female child requiring right middle lobectomy who presented with respiratory distress caused by congenital lobar emphysema.