Acquired Eventration of the Diaphragm: A Complication of Chest Tube Placement in Neonatal Pneumothorax

Air leaks are frequently encountered in newborns with respiratory distress syndrome who require assisted ventilation.1 Tension pneumothorax is a lifethreatening emergency that requires prompt drainage of the pleural space with a chest tube. Hemorrhage,2 lung perforation, 34 and infarction,5 are reported complications of closed tube thoracostomy. Recently, Ayalon et al6 have reported an unusual complication: phrenic nerve injury with diaphragmatic eventration. This communication also describes an infant with acquired eventration of the diaphragm following chest tube insertion. CASE REPORT D. L., a 1,480-gm male infant of a 30-week gestational pregnancy developed respiratory distress that required 40% oxygen. Chest radiographs revealed diffuse bilateral reticulogranular pattern and air bronchograms.