Cystic fibrosis: an unusual neonatal presentation.

In mechanically ventilated neonates it is not uncommon to observe obstructive atelectasis from various causes. However it is extremely rare to see mucous plugging and massive pulmonary atelectasis in the absence of infection, aspiration, and respiratory distress syndrome in the first couple of days of life. In this report we describe a neonate born with cystic fibrosis (CF) who presented to us with hypoxic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and hypercarbia without lactic acedemia from sticky mucous plugging and massive lung collapse. Neonatal respiratory distress and wide spread pulmonary atelectasis has not been reported in infants born with CF.