ABSTRACT
Lung surgery is a relatively rare event in childhood, since acquired lesions such as carcinoma or chronic infections are much less common than in adults. Many operations are performed for congenital problems, and less commonly for infectious etiologies. Children with inflammatory conditions such as lung abscess, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, and bronchiectasis are at greater risk for postoperative complications such as prolonged air leak. This chapter discusses the major conditions that result in the need for pulmonary resections in infants and children. These mainly consist of congenital problems, such as lobar overexpansion, pulmonary airway malformations, and sequestrations. Lobar overexpansion can be found in neonates and infants. This may be acquired from mucous plugs or structural abnormalities obstructing a portion of the airway. Congenital pulmonary airway malformations are lesions that are mostly diagnosed with prenatal ultrasound. A bronchopulmonary sequestration is a congenital malformation in which a portion of the lung receives systemic arterial supply and has no bronchial communication.
