ABSTRACT

In newborn patients with pneumothorax, underwater drainage with branule may be used by physicians experienced in neonatal care as a quick and easy procedure when a pediatric surgeon is not available to perform the relatively more difficult and agressive option of thorax tube insertion.

A total of 1017 patients were hospitalized in our neonatal intensive care unit between August 2010 and November 2015. Of them, 1.6% (n: 17) had pneumothorax. The mean body weight was 2314.7±1023.4 g (730-3600 g) and gestational age was 34.0±5.4 weeks (24-40 weeks). Two patients had bilateral pneumothorax, one patient had left-sided pneumothorax, and 14 patients had right-sided pneumothorax. In three patients, pneumothorax spontaneously resolved without any procedure.Four patients underwent tube thoracostomy, and 10 patients were treated by underwater seal drainage with branule. In one of the patients who underwent tube thoracostomy, reintervention was performed because of the tube dislocation. The primary disease which caused pneumotorax was diagnosed as respiratory distress syndrome in nine patients, asphyxia-meconium aspiration in five patients, and transient tachypnea of the newborn in three patients. Two patients died.

The medical records of patients who were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit with a diagnosis of pneumothorax between August 2010 and November 2015 were investigated retrospectively.

Pneumothorax is a major cause of respiratory distress and associated with increased mortality and morbidity in newborn patients. The aim of this article was to emphasize the usability of underwater seal drainage with branule, which is a simple and non-aggressive method, in the treatment of newborn patients with pneumothorax.