Abstract

Introduction: Pneumothorax occur most during neonatal age than other age of life in
human being, this more related to high morbidity and death rate. It started form damage
to alveoli that more distended. The air seepages lengthways of the perivascular sheath of
connective tissue inside to the pleural space, The aim of our study is to assessment of
prevalence, recognize the danger factors and to define the clinical features, treatment and
consequence of neonates that have pneumothorax and determine the fate of neonates
after treatments.
Method: Prospectively collected data from newborn infants with pneumothorax observed
and treated at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in al immamian alkadhomain
medical city, Sociodemographic data of neonates, clinical features of pneumothorax and
treatment of pneumothorax. Finally, assessment the fate of neonate assessed.
Results: A cross section descriptive study on 41 neonates mean age (34.6 ± 3) weeks
most age group 31 – 40 weeks 85% and weight (2 ± 0.7) kg most neonates (49%) with
2.1 – 3 kg, 34% females and 66% males, 61% of neonates are single parity, 71% of
neonates not need to antenatal steroid, while 56% of neonates delivered by CS, 71% of
neonates with Apgar score less than 7 in first 1 min., Significant association between
sociodemographic variables and clinical features as show in table 4; 52% of right
pneumothorax occur in male, 88% of left pneumothorax occur in male and 100% of
bilateral pneumothorax occur in male. 57% of RDS occur females while 43% of RDS in
male. 100% of TTN occur in single parity. 67% of pneumonia occur at age group 21- 30
week. Significant association between sociodemographic variables and treatment and fate
as show in table 5; 56% of neonate’s need C-pap were females and 44% were males.
56% of neonates need O2 therapy with weight 2.1-3kg, 26% of them that need O2 therapy
with weight 1-2 kg. 55% of alive neonates are males and 45% are females, 72% of single
parity neonates still alive.
Conclusion: Pneumothorax is moderately common in the NICU. The fate of neonates are
71% still alive and 29% dead. Pneumothorax itself was not a factor of death, probably due
to the sufficient and rapid therapy used in the NICU.