children s health issues
Pneumothorax in the Newborn
Introduction
Pneumothorax is a collection of air between the lung and the chest wall that develops when air leaks out of the lung. This disorder may develop in newborns who have lung disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome or meconium aspiration syndrome, who are treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or who are using a ventilator. The lung may collapse, breathing may be difficult, and blood pressure may decrease. The diagnosis is based on presence of breathing trouble, the results of a chest x-ray, and usually on the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the newborn's blood. Newborns who have trouble breathing are given oxygen, and air sometimes is removed from the chest cavity using a needle and syringe or a plastic drainage tube that is left in place. (See also Overview of General Problems in Newborns and Pneumothorax most often occurs in newborns with stiff lungs, such as newborns who have Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns (especially if due to Infrequently, it occurs as a complication resulting from the use of Obstructive sleep apnea (CPAP—a technique that allows newborns to breathe on their own while receiving slightly pressurized air or oxygen) or a Pneumothorax can occasionally happen spontaneously in newborns who do not have underlying lung disorders or who do not need breathing support. In these cases, pneumothorax is usually an incidental finding and these infants usually do not need any treatment. Some newborns who have a pneumothorax develop another lung disorder called Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn . 