4-Month-Old Baby Undergoes Rare Minimally Invasive Lung Surgery at AIIMS

Baby Maryam's battle with rare lung disease

The incidence of CLO is estimated at approximately 1 in 20,000 to 30,000 live births, accounting for about 10% of all congenital lung malformations it typically arises within the first six months of life, with about 50% of cases presenting symptoms at birth.Representative Image: Pexels

Published on:

18 Mar 2025, 6:02 am

Four-month-old Maryam Khan of Maujpur (Delhi) has a unique success story to tell after a rare minimally invasive lung surgery was conducted on her at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. She was diagnosed with congenital lobe overinflation (CLO) - a rare condition where a lobe of the lung expands abnormally, compressing normal lung tissue and causing very poor respiration.

Congenital lobar overinflation (CLO)

Congenital lobar overinflation (CLO), also known as congenital lobar emphysema, is a rare pulmonary anomaly characterized by the overexpansion of a lung lobe, leading to respiratory distress in infants. The incidence of CLO is approximately 1 in 20,000 to 30,000 live births, accounting for about 10% of all congenital lung malformations. Only about 10 cases are reported annually in major medical centers. Notably, CLO has a higher prevalence in males, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1.

A complex case requiring urgent intervention.

Maryam has been suffering from severe respiratory distress since birth, requiring prolonged hospitalization. Even after discharge, she was readmitted several times with respiratory problems and pneumonia. After a complete evaluation at AIIMS, doctors categorized her case as semi-urgent and, despite the huge patient load, provided her with surgery priority.

Pioneering minimally invasive surgery on an infant

The procedure was conducted by a team headed by Dr. Vishesh Jain, AIIMS professor of pediatric surgery. Skipping the traditional open-chest approach—which involves a large incision, plenty of pain, and a long recovery time—the team opted for the thoracoscopic approach, a novel, minimally invasive one that requires supreme precision in infants.

Through the use of specialized instruments only 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter and a tiny camera, the surgeons got a close view of Maryam's chest cavity. Among the most significant challenges was when the hyperinflated part of the lung expanded even more under anesthesia, causing her oxygen levels to drop too low. However, through skilled coordination between the surgical team and Dr. Nishant Patel, an anesthesiologist, they managed to redirect oxygen to her healthy lungs, stabilize her, and safely continue with the procedure.

Approximately 12% to 20% of CLO cases are associated with congenital heart diseases, such as ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and tetralogy of Fallot, this condition is more common in males, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1.Representative Image: Pexels

While thoracoscopic surgeries are routinely performed at AIIMS, what makes this case unique is the successful application of minimal access surgery in such a small child with severe disease and achieving an excellent recovery.

Dr. Sandeep Agarwala, Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery

Rapid recovery and a fresh start

Physicians removed the offending lung tissue via a 10-millimeter incision. Thanks to this minimally invasive procedure, Maryam recovered quickly and was discharged just two days after surgery — breathing normally for the first time since giving birth.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)

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