Objective:

To describe the clinical outcome of a newborn (NB) with unilateral pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PID) who required selective ventilation of the contralateral lung.

Case presentation:

This is a 32-week gestation female newborn, who presented respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), requiring mechanical ventilation. On the second day of life, she presented left unilateral interstitial PID. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation was used as treatment for this complication, as well as positioning of the newborn on the affected side, but there was no improvement. Subsequently, after selective ventilation of the contralateral lung was used for 48 hours total resolution of the emphysema was achivied.

Conclusion:

PID is a serious complication in newborns. The use of selective ventilation to the contralateral lung is a therapeutic alternative for its resolution.