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Updated: May 17, 2026

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
Pneumothorax after mechanical ventilation in newborns.
Abdolreza Malek1, Nargess Afzali, Mojtaba Meshkat
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Mashhad Branch, Mashhad, Iran.
Mechanical ventilation can cause pneumothorax in newborns. Surfactant replacement therapy significantly reduces this risk, improving outcomes for infants requiring respiratory support.
Area of Science:
- Neonatalogy
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Air leak syndromes, such as pneumothorax, are common in neonates, often linked to positive pressure mechanical ventilation.
- Understanding predisposing factors and incidence is crucial for managing these complications in critically ill newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate factors predisposing to pneumothorax in mechanically ventilated newborns.
- To determine the incidence of pneumothorax in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional study of 400 mechanically ventilated neonates in an Iranian teaching hospital ICU (April 2004 - December 2008).
- Data collected included demographics, delivery type, surfactant therapy, ventilator settings, and mortality.
- Statistical analyses involved univariate and regression analyses using SPSS software.
Main Results:
- Pneumothorax occurred in 26% (102/400) of mechanically ventilated neonates.
- Risk factors included male sex, preterm birth, low birth weight (<2500g), and cesarean delivery.
- Inspiratory Positive Pressure Ventilation (IPPV) was the most common ventilation type associated with pneumothorax; surfactant therapy was less frequent in neonates with pneumothorax (32.4% vs. 60.4%, P=0.017).
Conclusions:
- Surfactant replacement therapy is associated with a reduced risk of pneumothorax in mechanically ventilated newborns.
- Identifying and mitigating predisposing factors is essential for preventing air leak syndromes in neonatal intensive care.
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