title: Treatment of pneumothorax in newborns: use of venous catheter versus chest tube.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The traditional treatment for pneumothorax is tube thoracostomy. Chest tube placement often involves complications, particularly in newborns. The aim of this study is to introduce the method of air drainage with venous catheter and to compare two different methods, chest tube placement and venous catheter insertion, in the treatment of pneumothorax in newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  We treated 72 newborn patients with pneumothorax over a 4-year period in neonatal intensive care units at two different medical centers. We randomly divided the patients into two groups. In group I, we treated the patients with chest tube placement technique. We used 18-gauge venous catheter connected to an underwater system to drain air in group II patients. The duration of the procedure, the period of time that the chest tube or catheter was left in place, and the complications associated with the two different procedures were statistically compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time required to perform the venous catheter procedure was significantly shorter than that for chest tube placement (P < 0.05). The duration of the device in place was also significantly shorter in group II than group I (P < 0.05). Only two minor complications were recorded in patients who underwent venous catheter placement, and this group's complication rate was significantly lower than the rate in the chest tube group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Insertion of a venous catheter is a safe alternative to chest tube placement as a method of draining air from newborn patients with pneumothorax. This is an easy and quick bedside procedure and is particularly useful for newborn patients that require immediate air drainage.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Neonatology Unit, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, 1 Fevzi Cakmak caddesi 10, sokak no: 45, 06490 Bahçelievler, Ankara, Turkey. serdara@baskent-ank.edu.tr
authors: Irfan Serdar
authors: IS
authors: Arda
authors: Berkan
authors: B
authors: Gürakan
authors: Didem
authors: D
authors: Alíefendíoğlu
authors: Meriç
authors: M
authors: Tüzün
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D015505:Chest Tubes; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000628:therapy*; D013396:Suction / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome