Massive intravascular air accumulation in a neonate
Lubens, P.; Jubelirer, D.; Steichen, J.J.
Journal of Pediatrics 88(6): 1020-1022
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3476 PMID: 775041 Document Number: 100742
Modern intensive management of severe idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome [IRDS] of the newborn infant commonly includes intermittent positive pressure-assisted ventilation. Either because of the severity of the disease or because of the high pressures required for effective ventilation, pneumothorax is a frequent complication and manifests clinically with sudden deterioration of cardiorespiratory status. Other less commonly diagnosed extrapulmonary collections of air include pneumomediastinum, pneumopericardium and pneumoperitoneum. The case of an infant with IRDS who developed massive accumulation of intravascular air, a rarely recognized complication of IRDS was presented.