Lung isolation in a child with unilateral necrotizing Clostridium perfringens pneumonia

Objective: To describe lung isolation and the selective application of continuous positive airway pressure using an endobronchial blocker in a patient with sickle cell disease and unilateral necrotizing Clostridium perfringens pneumonia. Design: Case report. Setting: Pediatric intensive care unit. Patient: A 12-yr-old male with sickle cell disease developed persistent necrotizing pneumonia of the left lung following exchange transfusion for acute chest syndrome and hyper-hemolytic syndrome. Interventions: An endobronchial blocker was placed into the left main stem bronchus for lung isolation and application of continuous positive airway pressure to the left lung for 48 hrs. Measurements and Main Results: After 14 days of persistent atelectasis of the left lung despite thorascopic decortication and multiple bronchoscopies, our patient had substantial lung aeration within 48 hrs of continuous positive airway pressure applied via the endobronchial blocker. Lung resection was avoided and the patient was successfully extubated 2 days after removal of the blocker. Conclusions: This case report demonstrates a therapeutic application of prolonged lung isolation and differential ventilation in a patient with an airway too small for commercially available double-lumen endotracheal tubes. The apparent success of this intervention suggests the feasibility of selective ventilation in pediatric patients and highlights a novel application of the bronchial blocker.