Pneumothorax in the newborn

[Tanya Shivari]

Pneumothorax is a collection of air between the lung and the chest wall that develops when air leaks out of the lung.

This disorder may develop in newborns who have lung disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome or meconium aspiration syndrome, who are treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), or who are using a ventilator.
The lung may collapse, breathing may be difficult, and blood pressure may decrease.
The diagnosis is based on presence of breathing trouble, the results of a chest x-ray, and usually on the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the newborn