WOFAPS 2025 8th World Congress of Pediatric Surgery

İlden Hepgüler ¹, Bengisu Karbuzoğlu ², Yusuf Alper Kara ¹

¹ Izmir City Hospital Pediatric Surgery Clinic
² Sağlık Bilimleri Unıversity Tepecik Research and Training Hospital, Department of Pediatric Surgery

Introduction

Pneumothorax is a frequently encountered and emergent condition in neonatal intensive care units. It results from air leakage into the pleural space and poses a significant risk of morbidity and mortality, particularly in premature infants. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy, complication rates, and clinical outcomes of different drainage catheter types used in 101 neonates who underwent percutaneous thoracic drainage for pneumothorax.

Methods

This retrospective study included 101 neonates who underwent percutaneous thoracic drainage due to pneumothorax between 2020 and 2025 at İzmir City Hospital and Tepecik Training and Research Hospital. Clinical and demographic data were retrieved from hospital records. The evaluated parameters included catheter type, tube diameter, need for revision, material change, full lung expansion time, need for negative pressure, gestational age, postnatal age, and treatment outcomes.

Results

The mean gestational age of the 101 neonates was 32.25 weeks, and the mean postnatal age at intervention was 5.25 days. The most commonly used drainage material was the conventional thoracic tube (n=35), followed by the Veress-needle-guided polyurethane catheter (n=34) and intravenous cannula (n=23). The average time to complete lung expansion was 2.89 days. Catheter revision was required in 42 patients (41.6%). Negative pressure systems were applied in 23 patients (22.7%), initiated on average on post-intervention day 1.8, and continued for approximately 3 days. Treatment outcomes showed that in 54 patients (53.5%), the catheter was removed after treatment completion; in 20 patients (19.8%), the tube was dislodged spontaneously; and 27 patients (26.7%) died during treatment.

Conclusion

This study indicates that polyurethane catheters are as effective as conventional thoracic tubes. However, their impact on outcomes such as revision requirement and mortality should be carefully evaluated. With technological advancements, minimally invasive and user-friendly systems are expected to become more prevalent in neonatal intensive care practices.