Lung Perforation by Chest Tubes in the Neonate

Abstract

In 272 consecutive neonatal autopsies in one institution, 70 patients had had intercostal drainage tubes inserted to treat air leak secondary to pulmonary disease. In 9 of these cases, one or more chest tubes penetrated lung parenchyma. The majority of these occurred in infants less than 36 weeks’ gestation with hyaline membrane disease and its sequelae. Laceration of lung parenchyma most commonly occurred when tubes were inserted on the left side at 5 days or later and when multiple tubes were inserted.

Key Words:

• lung perforation
• chest tube
• pneumothorax