Bronchopleural fistula in a neonate.

Bronchopleural fistula (BPF) produced by endotracheal suction catheter is a known cause of persistent pneumothorax in preterm infants in intensive care nurseries. This report describes the pulmonary pathology of a neonate who had sustained this injury. The observation suggests that the abnormal airflow results in severe damage of the involved lobe and an unusually mild bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the rest of the lung. This is in agreement with the fact that BPF acts as the path of least resistance for the oxygen-rich air from the ventilator.