Babies without symptoms may not need treatment. The health care team will monitor your baby’s breathing, heart rate, and color.

If your baby is having symptoms, the doctor will place a needle or thin tube called a catheter into the baby’s chest to remove the air that has leaked into the chest space.

Treatment can last for a few days to a few weeks.

Some air leaks will go away on their own within a few days without treatment. Infants who are treated by removing the air with a needle or catheter usually do well after treatment.

Although babies on breathing machines are carefully watched, air leaks can occur.

As air builds up in the chest, it can push the heart toward the other side of the chest. This puts pressure on both the lung that hasn’t collapsed and the heart. This condition is called tension pneumothorax. It is a medical emergency.

Often pneumothorax is discovered shortly after the baby is born. Call your health care provider if your infant has symptoms of pneumothorax.