Congenital pulmonary airway malformation

If your obstetrician suspects CPAM, he or she will likely refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (a specialist who handles high-risk pregnancies) for a targeted ultrasound. The ultrasound will help confirm the diagnosis. Ultrasound also will help your doctor look at the general anatomy of your baby for associated anomalies, as well as to provide an idea of your baby's well-being.

Another diagnostic tool that is maybe useful in management of chest masses is an MRI. Fetal MRI is helpful in distinguishing a cystic type tumor from a solid one. Some affected fetuses will begin to accumulate fluid in various body cavities, such as in the lungs or abdomen, around the heart and under the skin. This is called hydrops. If this develops, it is an ominous sign, and may be an indication to deliver early or to examine the possibility for an in-utero operation or intervention to treat the lung mass before birth. These babies have a high-risk of dying in utero and of those who survive to be born, the majority will need significant medical and surgical support and are generally very ill.

The traditional treatment of choice for CPAM is a lobectomy. This means that the lobe in the lung that contains the cyst(s) is completely removed. The timing of surgery depends on whether your infant has breathing problems or not. If there are no breathing problems, your baby will go home with you from the newborn nursery. He or she will need to return for surgery once he or she has been given time to grow. Your baby's surgeon will generally perform surgery at about 2 to 6 months of age. A chest X-ray and chest CT scan will be done as an outpatient procedure before surgery. Other factors may influence the appropriate timing of surgery.

If the mass is so large that it interferes with your baby's ability to breathe without help, we will perform surgery within the first week after birth. Before surgery, we will stabilize your baby and give him or her some time to adjust to life outside of your uterus, if possible. The doctor also will perform a general evaluation of your baby to check for any associated anomalies.

Some of the more severely affected infants may develop persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). PPHN is a serious condition in which pressure in the lungs is high, forcing blood flow away from the lungs. This results in decreased levels of oxygen in the blood that goes to the body. High pressure in the lungs is normal for a fetus before birth because they are not using their lungs this way. However, after birth, this high pressure must decrease so that an adequate blood flow can pass through the lungs to rid the blood of carbon dioxide and pick up oxygen. Treatment for this condition may include inhaled nitric oxide or ECMO. ECMO stands for extracorporal membrane oxygenation. It is a machine that does work that the heart and lungs normally would do.

At birth, if the size of the CPAM requires immediate assistance, we will place a tube into your baby's airway to help him or her breathe. If possible, parents will be allowed to see and hold your baby in the delivery room. When it's necessary, your baby will be transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for treatment.

If your baby goes to the NICU and requires immediate care for breathing issues, we also may need to place some special lines. For example:

• The umbilical cord of a newborn typically contains two arteries and one vein. A flexible tube for giving intravenous solutions called an umbilical venous catheter will be placed in the vein in the umbilical cord so nourishment (vitamins, minerals, calories, fat) and medications can be given for a prolonged period of time.
• Another flexible tube will be placed in one of the arteries of the umbilical cord. This is called an umbilical artery catheter. We use this line to give IV fluid, remove blood for testing and monitor blood pressure.

Medications given before surgery could include:

• Narcotics to keep your baby free from pain
• Paralytics to keep your baby from moving
• Blood pressure medication to maintain an adequate blood pressure

Treatment after surgery depends on a number of factors, including:

• When the surgery is done
• The size of the CPAM
• How much lung was removed
• If the CPAM involves both lungs or more than one lobe, your baby may have more limited breathing.
• General health of the baby. If your baby has hydrops, unfortunately, he or she will likely have a much rockier course with a poorer prognosis. Some babies with hydrops will not survive to have surgery.

Breathing tube: After surgery, your baby may need continued help to breathe effectively. We will keep the special tube (endotracheal tube) that had been placed during surgery into the windpipe. This tube helps with your baby's breathing, but it will also keep your baby from making sounds. It will be removed when the specialists feel your baby can breathe safely without the assistance of the tube.

Blood draws: He or she may need frequent blood draws for lab work to monitor oxygenation, electrolytes, blood count and other things.

Medications: After surgery, your baby may need a variety of medications including:

• Antibiotics to fight infection
• Pain medication to control pain after surgery
• Blood pressure medication to stabilize and maintain an adequate blood pressure
• Sedation to keep your baby quiet so he or she does not become agitated
• Paralytics to keep your baby from moving

IV lines: Your baby will have IV lines placed. The type of lines used will depend on the age at which the surgery is performed. If surgery is done soon after birth, the umbilical cord artery and vein will be used. Other IV lines can be placed in your baby's hands, arms, scalp, feet or lower legs. These are started just as they were for you while in labor.

Chest tube(s): Your baby also may have a chest tube on the side of the chest where the CPAM was removed. This helps the lung on that side re-expand into the chest space where the mass used to be. It will also drain any fluids that accumulate in the chest.

Urinary catheter: Your baby may have a urinary catheter passed into his or her bladder that was placed during surgery. This helps us keep an accurate assessment of how much urine the kidneys are making and allows us to test the urine to ensure your baby's well-being. It is temporary and usually removed soon after surgery.

IV nourishment: Your baby will not be able to eat until his or her condition has stabilized, but we will continue to give nourishment with IV fluids. Because babies with CPAM may not eat for a while, special nourishment is given through the veins, typically through a central line or UVC. Total parenteral nutrition is an IV solution that contains protein, fats, sugar, vitamins and minerals. This will supply your baby with all his or her nutritional requirements until he or she is able to take food by mouth.

Yes. Ask your baby's nurse about ways to interact with and care for your baby.

If you had planned to breastfeed your baby, you can start pumping your breasts and freezing the breast milk while you are still in the hospital. A lactation consultant can answer your questions. Your milk will be frozen and stored in the NICU until your baby is ready for it. The NICU has breast pumps and private rooms available to you when you are visiting.

Your baby will go home when he or she can eat enough to maintain and gain weight and can breathe well without help. The length of stay for a baby with CPAM varies depending on the severity of his or her condition and his or her response to treatment.

If the cyst(s) is large, involves more than one lobe, or is bilateral (involves both lungs) and requires immediate intervention and surgery, the stay will likely be longer. The average stay for this course of care can range from 4 to 12 weeks.

This is compared to a baby who has milder symptoms or is able to wait 2 to 6 months for surgery. Their average stay can range from a few days in the newborn nursery to 1 or 2 weeks in the NICU. If there are associated anomalies (more common with type II CPAM), it can prolong or complicate the length of stay as well, no matter how large or small the CPAM is.

The long-term outcome for infants who have the cyst(s) removed is excellent. This is especially true when there are no other anomalies and hydrops is not present. After the cyst is removed, the lungs grow to compensate for the part that was removed. These children usually have no limitations on their activities and have no increased risk for respiratory complications. However, if the CPAM is not removed, there is an increased risk of it becoming cancerous and cause problematic lung infections.

Learn more about the Surgery Program at Children's Wisconsin.