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Pulmonary embolization in pediatric patients: Single-center experience
  • +3
  • Nilgun Kula,
  • Tugba Sismanlar Eyuboglu,
  • Mehmet Koray Akkan,
  • Oznur Boyunaga,
  • Ahmet Baran Onal,
  • Ayşe Aslan
Nilgun Kula
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Tugba Sismanlar Eyuboglu
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi

Corresponding Author:tsismanlar@yahoo.com

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Mehmet Koray Akkan
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Oznur Boyunaga
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Ahmet Baran Onal
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Ayşe Aslan
Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
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Abstract

Introduction: Diseases requiring pulmonary embolization (PE) in children are relatively rare. Transarterial PE is a minimally invasive technique and is associated with a lower morbidity rate compared to surgical resection. Clinical practice guidelines and recommendations are generally for adults. We presented the indications, procedure technique, and follow-up results of patients who underwent PE due to abnormal blood flow and pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) in a tertiary pediatric pulmonology clinic. Methods: Medical records of all patients who underwent PE between December 2006 and March 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, major complaints leading to the diagnosis, diagnostic procedures, underlying diseases, treatment, complications, and long-term follow-up data were recorded. Results: Six pediatric patients underwent PE (3 males, 3 females; median age at diagnosis 7.2 (0.2-17) years. Two patients had extrapulmonary sequestration (EPS) in the left lower lobe; the other four had PAVMs. After the PE procedure, pneumonia developed in one patient and pulmonary embolism in one patient. In long-term follow-up, pneumonia was observed in one patient, pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion in one patient, and residual filling in PAVMs in three patients. Conclusion: Children who undergo PE should be closely followed up for complications such as recurrent pulmonary infection, pulmonary embolism, and the need for recurrent PE.