RT Book, Section A1 Gomella, Tricia Lacy A1 Cunningham, M. Douglas A1 Eyal, Fabien G. A1 Tuttle, Deborah J. SR Print(0) ID 1107528101 T1 Air Leak Syndromes T2 Neonatology: Management, Procedures, On-Call Problems, Diseases, and Drugs, 7e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071768016 LK accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1107528101 RD 2024/10/03 AB The pulmonary air leak syndromes (pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax, pulmonary interstitial emphysema [PIE], pneumatocele, pneumopericardium, pneumoperitoneum, and pneumoretroperitoneum) comprise a spectrum of diseases with the same underlying pathophysiology. Overdistention of alveolar sacs or terminal airways leads to disruption of airway integrity, resulting in dissection of air into extra-alveolar spaces. Very rarely air can enter pulmonary vasculature (pulmonary veins) and cause air embolus. Air can also leak into the subcutaneous layers of the skin, especially skin of the chest, neck, and face, causing subcutaneous emphysema.