Determinants of Survival in Neonatal Pneumothorax: Clinical Profile and Risk Factor Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/jhrr.v5i8.1952Keywords:
Neonate; Pneumothorax; Respiratory distress syndrome; Mechanical ventilation; Prematurity; Survival.Abstract
Background: Neonatal pneumothorax is a potentially life-threatening air-leak syndrome with outcomes influenced by prematurity, underlying lung disease, and respiratory support intensity. Objective: To describe the clinical profile, risk factors, and short-term outcomes of neonatal pneumothorax and evaluate associations with survival. Methods: A cross-sectional observational analysis was conducted among 42 neonates diagnosed with pneumothorax. Data included sex, gestational age, birth weight, ventilator use, primary respiratory risk factors, and length of stay. Survival was compared across categorical predictors using chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals; correlation analyses evaluated associations between key variables and outcome. Results: Overall survival was 31/42 (73.8%). Survival did not differ by sex (72.7% vs 75.0%). Neonates born at 28–32 weeks had lower survival than those at 33–37 weeks (67.9% vs 85.7%, p = 0.048). Ventilator use was common (81.0%) and associated with lower survival (67.6% vs 87.5%, p = 0.041) and longer stay (12.1 ± 3.6 vs 7.6 ± 1.3 days). RDS was the most frequent risk factor (47.6%) and was associated with reduced survival (60.0%, p = 0.030). Conclusion: Survival in neonatal pneumothorax is strongly patterned by maturity and severity markers, with prematurity, RDS, and ventilator exposure identifying higher-risk neonates who may benefit from intensified monitoring and protocolized respiratory management. Keywords:
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