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Abstract
Two neonates were presented at the Neonatology Department of the Institute of Child Nutrition and Health in Conakry, Guinea, with tension pneumothoraces as confirmed by chest X-ray. They were initially managed with needle thoracentesis but required continuous thoracic drainage. Due to scarce resources in the public health sector, no prepacked and dedicated pleural drainage systems were available as is the case in many developing countries. Therefore, we fabricated an improvised underwater seal drain out of a plastic infusion bottle and a Heimlich valve out of a vicryl fingerstall. Both devices have shown to be effective. Pneumothorax is a common and potentially life-threatening disease in neonates that often requires prompt treatment. This case series demonstrates how tension pneumothorax in two newborns was successfully managed by improvising different chest drainage systems. The depicted techniques shall serve as an instruction manual to healthcare professionals working in low-resource settings and facing similar challenges.
- emergency medicine
- paediatrics
- infant health
- neonatal health
- pneumothorax
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Footnotes
Contributors The corresponding author, Dr MBMA, was responsible for the acquisition of data, the treatment of the patients, the communication with their legal guardians, the writing of the manuscript as well as the sketching of the instruction manuals. Dr NC was involved in the treatment of the patients, especially the assembly of the improvised medical devices for thoracic drainage; he was also responsible for manuscript reviewing. Dr ISD was the clinical supervisor of the project; he was also responsible for manuscript reviewing. Professor MR-K was responsible for manuscript editing and reviewing.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent for publication Parental/guardian consent obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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