Pneumothorax and pulmonary interstitial emphysema in the newborn.

With the greatly increased interest in neonatal morbidity in recent years it is now realized that pneumothorax and pulmonary interstitial emphysema in the newborn period, for many years regarded as medical curiosities, are not uncommon. Indeed, Davis and Stevens (1930) demonstrated the presence of pneumothorax radiologically in 1% of 702 consecutive babies and Solis-Cohen and Bruck (1934) in approximately 2% of 500 neonates. While the majority recover spontaneously, in others the condition progresses rapidly and death may ensue. The following cases illustrate the association between obstructive atelectasis, pulmonary interstitial emphysema and pneumothorax. In addition, two fatal cases of a congenital anomaly of the lungs (pulmonary alveolar dysplasia) are described in both of which pulmonary interstitial emphysema developed. Pulmonary alveolar dysplasia does not appear to have been recorded before as a cause of interstitial emphysema and pneumothorax in the newborn.