Incidence of ultrasonographic signs of pneumothorax in asymptomatic neonates

• Published in: Pediatric pulmonology Vol. 58; no. 6; pp. 1691 - 1696
• Main Authors: Montero Gato, Jon, Sacristán, Pablo Andrés, Vázquez, Nerea López, Martín, Mónica de las Heras, Amorós, Ana Gutiérrez, Fernández, Lorena Rodeño
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.06.2023
• Subjects: Asymptomatic; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant, Newborn; Lung - diagnostic imaging; lung point; newborn; Pneumothorax; Pneumothorax - diagnostic imaging; Pneumothorax - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Thorax; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasonography; ultrasound; newborn; lung point; ultrasound; pneumothorax
• ISSN: 8755-6863; 1099-0496
• DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26378

Introduction Pneumothorax in neonates can be life‐threatening. In neonates without respiratory distress, spontaneous pneumothorax can also develop under certain conditions. Objectives To determine the incidence of ultrasonographic signs of pneumothorax in asymptomatic neonates using lung ultrasound as the diagnostic tool. Methods This was an observational prospective study conducted at the Basurto University Hospital (Bilbao, Spain) between January 2018 and December 2020. Lung ultrasound was performed during routine examination of asymptomatic neonates admitted to the maternity ward. Results Of a total of 204 asymptomatic neonates included in the study, 21 (10.3%) presented ultrasound signs of pneumothorax (Group A), and 183 (89.7%) had a normal lung ultrasound (Group B). Lung ultrasound was performed after a mean of 19 h of life (range 9–34). The presence of A‐lines behind the sternum in the anterior transverse plane, at the intermammillary level, was observed in 100% of patients in Group A compared to no cases in Group B (p < 0.0001). The neonates of Group A presented the lung point located in the midclavicular line, indicative of a mild air leak. Conclusions Lung ultrasound allows precise detection of suspected small‐sized air leaks that can be detected in asymptomatic neonates. The true incidence of pneumothorax in asymptomatic neonates may be substantially higher than previously described in the literature.