Evaluation of newborns with pneumothorax

Purpose: the purpose of this study was to evaluate newborns with pneumothorax treated in the neonatal intensive care units in the pediatrics and pediatric surgery departments of pamukkale university. materials and methods: records of newborns with pneumothorax who were treated from january 2008 to may 2013 were analyzed. patient demographics, risk factors, details of treatment and outcomes were evaluated. results: 30 newborns (17m, 13f) were treated. mean birth weight was 2497±781 (800-3900) g, and gestational age was 34.7±3.8 (26-41) weeks. 63.3% of the patients were premature and 70% of them were delivered by cesarean section. 76.7% of the 30 newborns developed pneumothorax in the first 48 hours of life. 10 patients (33.3%) underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation at birth. pneumothorax developed in half of the patients on mechanical ventilation. 12 patients had transient tachypnea of newborn; 10 had respiratory distress syndrome; 2 had pneumonia, and 3 had congenital heart disease. out of the 3 congenital heart disease patients 1 had aortic coarctation and the other 2 had pda surgery, also developed postoperative pneumothorax. patients with pneumothorax, 12 patients had it on the right hemithorax, 12, on the left and 6 had bilateral. surfactan was administered to 13 (43.3%) patients. 27 patients had chest tube drainage and 3 were treated conservatively. mean chest tube drainage time was 4.9 ± 2.5 (1-11) days. only 3 patients (10.0%) died. conclusion: in this study the most common causes of pneumothorax were transient tachypnea of newborn and rds. the low mortality rate in our patients is remarkable.