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CPAM Surgery: How can minimal incision technology change the future of infant surgery and save more lives?
With the advancement of medical technology, the treatment of some congenital diseases is becoming more and more effective. Congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM) is a rare congenital lung disease that is usually detected during pregnancy. The disease replaces lung lobes with cystic tissue, which can cause a host of health problems. Now, a surgical method called minimally invasive surgery is changing the field, giving more babies a chance to be saved.
What is congenital pulmonary airway malformation (CPAM)?
Congenital pulmonary airway malformation, also known as congenital cystic adenomatous malformation (CCAM), is a congenital lung disorder that may cause an entire lobe of the lung to be replaced by unhealthy cystic tissue. This abnormal tissue does not function like normal lung tissue.
The cause of congenital pulmonary airway malformations is currently unknown, but the incidence is approximately 1 in every 30,000 pregnancies.
How to Identify and Diagnose CPAM
CPAM is usually detected during routine prenatal ultrasound examinations. Typical features on ultrasound images include an echogenic (bright) mass in the fetal chest, an abnormally positioned heart, and a flat diaphragm. During the diagnosis of CPAM, clinicians will classify the lesions into five types based on their appearance.
Treatment and surgical methods
For most babies with CPAM, the medical team will monitor them closely during pregnancy. Compared with traditional surgical methods, minimal incision technology can safely perform surgery with smaller incisions, which not only reduces postoperative recovery time but also greatly reduces the risk of complications.
Many minor surgeries require only a few pinhole-sized incisions, making recovery faster and safer for babies.
Prognosis and future prospects
New research shows that when CPAM is diagnosed early in pregnancy, the prognosis is usually good. But if edema occurs, the survival rate will drop significantly. Through timely surgical intervention, combined with strategic medication, many lives can be saved.
Some studies have also shown that the use of antenatal steroids can increase the survival rate of fetuses with hydrops by as much as 75%-100%.
Challenges Ahead
Although existing technologies have improved the diagnosis and treatment of CPAM, there are still some challenges that need to be overcome. The first is how to perform prenatal surgery more effectively without affecting fetal development; the second is how to further reduce the incidence of postoperative complications. For the medical industry, this is an area that requires continuous exploration and research.
These advances in medical technology have undoubtedly brought hope to many families. In the future, to what extent will minimal incision technology change our understanding and practice of infant surgery?
