Pulmonary Sequestration (also called Bronchopulmonary Sequestion (BPS) or congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is often diagnosed on prenatal ultrasound. These lung lesions have no connection to the airways, and are therefore termed “sequestrations,” due to their separation from the airway. Without access to the trachea, they are not capable of exchanging oxygen or carbon dioxide. There lesions also have major blood flow through branches directly off of the aorta.

Surgical excision is recommended. Removal allows the remaining lung to grow, and avoids potential complications later in life.

Drs Notrica and McMahon recently presented a video demonstration of safe thoracoscopic removal of a pulmonary sequestration with 5 feeding vessels coming from the aorta at the American College of Surgeons meeting in Washington, D.C.

1. Notrica DM. McMahon LE. Thoracoscopic excision of pulmonary sequestration with 5 systemic vessels. (VE03) American College of Surgeons. American College of Surgeons Meeting 2013. October 2013, Washington DC.