Pneumothorax in Full-term Neonates Transferred due to Respiratory Distress

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the incidence and course of pneumothorax in full-term infants with dyspnea. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 607 newborn infants who had dyspnea and transferred to the tertiary medical center within 24 hours after birth, from 2011 to 2017. Results: Among the total 607 patients, 74 were excluded. Of the 533 patients, 72 (13.5%) diagnosed pneumothorax by first chest X-ray were in the pneumothorax group and 461 (86.5%) were in the control group. The incidence of pneumothorax was 13.5% (72/533) and 7.1% (35/496) in infants with pulmonary disease. The incidence of pneumothorax according to the underlying pulmonary disease was highest in congenital pneumonia (15.8%). The length of hospitalization was longer in the pneumothorax group. Of the pneumothorax, 28 (38.9%) were in the chest tube group and 44 (61.1%) were in the no chest tube group. The proportion of infants treated with mechanical ventilation was higher in the chest tube group. The time from birth to diagnosis, hospitalization days and duration of improvement of pneumothorax in chest X-ray were longer in the chest tube group than in the no chest tube group. Conclusion: The incidence of pneumothorax was quite common among the full-term infants who were transferred due to dyspnea, there was no significant difference between the two groups except for the longer hospitalization days for pneumothorax group. Considering the length of hospitalization and the need for chest tube insertion, the possibility of pneumothorax should be considered in full-term infants with dyspnea at primary medical institution.