Left lung aplasia with patent ductus arteriosus in a term newborn baby: a case report

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pulmonary aplasia is a very rare congenital anomaly identified by the absence of lung parenchyma or vessels. This malformation mostly accompanies other anomalies, and chest computed tomography (CT) is a useful diagnostic tool. We present a rare case of left lung aplasia with patent ductus arteriosus and neonatal sepsis in a term newborn baby who had respiratory distress. The clinical features were observed during the first week of life, and the diagnosis of these anomalies was established by clinical, laboratory, chest x-ray, thoracic CT and echocardiographic findings. After the management of neonatal sepsis and patent ductus arteriosus, he was discharged from the hospital in good condition. Since the index case of lung aplasia was associated with congenital heart disease and had strong parental consanguinity, a genetic basis may have been involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary aplasia.