Pneumothorax Flashcards
Physical exam findings in a patient with pneumothorax
- absent or decreased breath sounds
- hyper resonance to percussion
What is pneumothorax?
Abnormal collection of air in pleural space
What are the classifications of pneumothorax?
Spontaneous or Traumatic
What are the classifications of spontaneous pneumothorax?
Primary or Secondary
What are the classifications of traumatic pneumothorax?
Chest trauma or iatrogenic
Small pneumothorax is common in who?
Young, tall men (age 20-40) who smoke
In larger pneumothorax, what physical findings are present?
Diminished breath sounds, decreased tactile fremitus, decreased chest movement, and hyper resonance of affected side
What is the timeline of CXR in stable patients with pneumothorax?
- Obtain arrival CXR
- 3-6hours obtain another CXR and compare
For small pneumothorax, how do they resolve?
Spontaneously as air is absorbed from pleural space
What is a hallmark sx of tension pneumothorax?
Tracheal deviation
What is tension pneumothorax?
When a one way valve air leak occurs from either the lung or chest wall
What is the treatment for tension pneumothorax?
Needle thoracentesis (16g catheter or larger) into second intercostal space, midclavicular line
