Neonatal pneumothoraces with atypical location: the role of lung ultrasound
Rebeca Gregorio-Hernández1, Alba Pérez-Pérez2, Almudena Alonso-Ojembarrena3
1Neonatology Department, Gregorio Marañón University Hospital, Madrid, Spain. rebeca.gregorio@salud.madrid.org.
Abstract:
Neonatal pneumothorax (NP) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has shown higher sensitivity and specificity in diagnosis compared to x-rays, but evidence regarding its usefulness in complex NP is lacking. We report four neonates suffering from cardiac or esophageal malformations who developed lateral and/or posterior pneumothoraces, in which LUS helped, making NP diagnosis and management easier and faster.
Conclusion:
LUS is an easy-to-use, fast, simple, and accurate tool when evaluating newborns with NP, also in atypical positions such as in surgical patients.
What Is Known:
• Lung ultrasound (LUS) has higher sensitivity and specificity than x-rays in the diagnosis of pneumothorax in neonatal patients.
What Is New:
• This is the first report about neonatal pneumothorax in non-conventional areas (lateral/posterior) diagnosed by lung ultrasound and how obtaining this information is critical in order to optimize management.
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