Pulmonary interstitial emphysema is more frequent in premature infants who require mechanical ventilation for severe lung disease.

Infants with pulmonary interstitial emphysema are typically recommended for admission to a neonatal intensive care unit.

[2] For longer durations of PIE the length of time of mechanical ventilation needed may increase and the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia becomes higher.

In a 1987 study 3% of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) developed pulmonary interstitial emphysema.

[2] Studies reflecting international frequency demonstrated that 2-3% of all infants in NICUs develop pulmonary interstitial emphysema.