Pulmonary interstitial emphysema in newborns

Abstract

Pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) is a rare case of air leak syndrome in newborns, with air escaping from the tracheobronchial tree into the lung tissue.We observed 3 cases of PIE. The three newborns were moderately premature. The common initial presentation was respiratory distress, which subsequently worsened. The treatment was conservative, with positioning and oxygen therapy. Medium- and long-term outcomes were good, with patients remaining clinically symptom-free. However, follow-up CT scans revealed the persistence of sequelae bullae.Systematic medium- and long-term follow-up may be recommended to detect persistent respiratory symptoms and describe radiological evolution.

Keywords: Neonatal and paediatric intensive care; Pediatrics; Respiratory medicine.