Abstract:
Summary
Congenital anomalies of the bronchopulmonary system represent a
diverse category of structural defects affecting the tracheobronchial tree, the
pulmonary parenchyma, the functional pulmonary vasculature, as well as the
neural plexuses involved in their regulation.
These malformations encompass a broad spectrum of structural airway
abnormalities and account for approximately 5% to 18% of all congenital
malformations of the pulmonary system. The overall incidence is estimated at
30–42 cases per 100,000 live births.
Such anomalies may impair respiratory function from the earliest
moments of life. However, in some cases, they remain clinically silent and are
discovered incidentally later in life during investigations performed for
unrelated conditions. The severity of these congenital anomalies varies widely,
ranging from mild forms with no apparent symptoms to complex and severe
structural defects requiring specialized surgical management. Early diagnosis is
of paramount importance, as timely therapeutic intervention significantly
reduces the risk of serious complications and greatly improves long-term
outcomes.
Our study included 18 children with congenital bronchopulmonary
malformations who were hospitalized in the Pneumology Clinic of the Mother
and Child Institute. The diagnosis was confirmed using thoracic imaging
techniques. Among the patients, 15 were diagnosed with tracheal bronchus, 2
children had airway stenosis due to vascular compression (associated with cardiovascular malformations), and 1 child presented with a rare form of
bronchial tree anomaly — a "bridging" bronchus.