Pneumothorax in the newborn with respiratory difficulties

Pneumothorax develops when extraalveolar air ruptures into the pleural space with partial or complete collapse of the affected lung. Pneumothorax can occur at any time during the newborn period, but it usually appears as a complication of some other respiratory problem. The purpose of this study is to known the incidence of pneumothorax due to the respiratory difficulties. The materials were taken from 2368 neonates suffering from respiratory difficulties, out of 7445 neonates born in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in 1987 and 1988. All these babies were put on radiological examination. Among those 10 babies were diagnosed as pneumothorax. It occurred as a complication of severe asphyxia (due to over vigorous initial resuscitation), and its incidence was 0.09%, that of respiratory distress syndrome (2.13%), bronchopneumonia (6.25%) and aspiration pneumonia (2.8%). The overall incidence of pneumothorax in the newborn with respiratory difficulties was 0.42% and the mortality 20%.