THORACOSCOPIC SURGERY FOR CONGENITAL LUNG MALFORMATIONS: DOES PREVIOUS INFECTION REALLY MATTER?

ABSTRACT Background/ Purpose Elective resection of congenital lung malformations (CLMs) is still debatable. The two main risks are malignant transformation and recurrent pulmonary infections. Our study aimed to assess the effect of previous pulmonary infection on the intraoperative and postoperative courses of thoracoscopic surgery for CLMs. Methods This is a retrospective study including all thoracoscopic lung resection for CLMs between 2010 and 2019. Ninety patients were included. There was a history of previous pulmonary infection in 28 patients (group A) and no such history in 62 patients (group B). Results The median age at operation for group A was 20.4 months (IQR:14.9-41.4) versus 15.1 months (IQR:9.7-20.8) in group B (p=0.006). There were 10 conversions (35.7%) in group A and 8 (12.9%) in group B (p=0.02). The operative time was significantly shorter in group B (p Conclusion Earlier intervention for CLMs before the development of pulmonary infection carries higher chances for the success of the thoracoscopic approach with shorter operative time and more uneventful postoperative courses.