Abstract: Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of reverse partial lung resection for treatment of pediatric pulmonary cysts combined with lung abscesses or thoracic abscess. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of children undergoing reverse partial lung resection for complex pulmonary cysts in our hospital between June, 2020 and June, 2021. During the surgery, the patients lay in a lateral position, and a 3-5 cm intercostal incision was made at the center of the lesion, through which the pleura was incised and the fluid or necrotic tissues were removed. The anesthesiologist was instructed to aspirate the sputum in the trachea to prevent entry of the necrotic tissues in the trachea. The cystic lung tissue was separated till reaching normal lung tissue on the hilar side. The proximal end of the striated tissue in the lesion was first double ligated with No.4 silk thread, the distal end was disconnected, and the proximal end was reinforced with continuous sutures with 4-0 Prolene thread. The compromised lung tissues were separated, and the thoracic cavity was thoroughly flushed followed by pulmonary inflation, air leakage management and incision suture. Results Sixteen children aged from 3 day to 2 years underwent the surgery, including 3 with simple pulmonary cysts, 11 with pulmonary cysts combined with pulmonary or thoracic abscess, 1 with pulmonary cysts combined with tension pneumothorax and left upper lung bronchial defect, and 1 with pulmonary herpes combined with brain tissue heterotaxy. All the operations were completed smoothly, with a mean operation time of 129 min, an mean hospital stay of 11 days, and a mean drainage removal time of 7 days. All the children recovered well after the operation, and 11 of them had mild air leakage. None of the children had serious complications or residual lesions or experienced recurrence of infection after the operation. Conclusion Reverse partial lung resection is safe and less invasive for treatment of complex pediatric pulmonary cysts complicated by infections.

Key words: reverse pulmonary resection; pulmonary cyst; pulmonary abscess; empyema