A rare case of unilateral severe bullous emphysema in a 32-year-old female. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Hui Jun; Lim, Chong Hee
• Is Part Of: Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals. Volume 24:Number 6(2016)
• Page Start: 597
• Page End: 600
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: Blister -- diagnosis -- differential -- dyspnea -- lung -- hyperlucent -- pneumonectomy -- pulmonary emphysema; Heart -- Diseases -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.412
• DOI: 10.1177/0218492316651217
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0218-4923

Abstract

Congenital bullous emphysema is defined as large bullae involving at least one-third of a hemithorax. We describe the case of a 32-year-old female who presented with increasing shortness of breath. Radiological investigations revealed severe emphysema with hyperexpansion of the right lung and a mediastinal shift to the left. A lung perfusion scan showed reduced perfusion in the right lung. The patient underwent a right pneumonectomy with a diagnosis of congenital bullous emphysema. She was doing well 6 years later.