Air leak syndrome is a common and critical respiratory issue in neonates. Air leak syndrome not only affects pulmonary gas exchange but also leads to unstable hemodynamics, severe pulmonary hypertension, and other life-threatening conditions. In recent years, despite significant improvements in respiratory support concepts, equipment, and techniques, air leak syndrome remains a prevalent clinical problem, impacting neonatal prognosis and quality of life. This article summarizes the research progress on high-risk factors, early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of air leak syndrome.

Air leak syndrome is a common and critical respiratory issue in neonates. Air leak syndrome not only affects pulmonary gas exchange but also leads to unstable hemodynamics, severe pulmonary hypertension, and other life-threatening conditions. In recent years, despite significant improvements in respiratory support concepts, equipment, and techniques, air leak syndrome remains a prevalent clinical problem, impacting neonatal prognosis and quality of life. This article summarizes the research progress on high-risk factors, early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of air leak syndrome.

This article reported the comprehensive management of an extremely preterm infant with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The patient born at 26 +6 gestational weeks was transferred to Children's Hospital of Fudan University due to invasive mechanical ventilation dependence at 61 d after birth and was diagnosed with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. A comprehensive treatment plan was adopted, including appropriate fluid restriction, improving nutrition, glucocorticoid administration, using antibiotics against Ureaplasma urealyticum infection to reduce pulmonary parenchymal lesions and alleviating pulmonary hypertension. The preterm infant was successfully extubated to non-invasive ventilation and subsequently weaned to a high-flow nasal cannula. Then, the patient was discharged at 372 d after birth (correct gestational age nine months and six days). At the 3-month follow-up after discharge, the patient remained on high-flow oxygen, but with lower flow and concentration of oxygen. Moreover, the growth, development and lung images were significantly improved. Follow-up to correct gestational age one year and 11 months, the child was not on oxygen any more, but on rehabilitation due to language and motor development retardation.