Pneumothorax Flashcards
What is the importance of the intrapleural pressure (-4 mmHg)?
That force/pressure prevents the lungs from collapsing.
Suctions the lung to the chest wall so it stays open.
What is a pneumothorax?
Occurs when the pleural space is punctured, allowing air to enter. The intrapleural pressure becomes equivalent to the intrapulmonary pressure, leading to the lung collapsing.
What are the 3 types of pneumothorax?
- Spontaneous pneumo
- Open/sucking pneumo
- Tension pneumo
What is the primary cause of a spontaneous pneumo
Bullae on the surface of the lung bursts and makes a “tear” in the visceral pleura. This allows small amounts of air to enter the pleural space (distrubing the intrapleural pressure).
What is the textbook patient for a spontaneous pneumo?
- Young adult
- Male
- Tall
- Thin
What is the cause of a open/sucking chest wound? (traumatic pneumothorax)
Caused by trauma (broken rib, bullet, stab wound).
The trauma causes a rip in the parietal pleura causing air to enter the pleural space. (air can also exit)
What is the cause of a tension pneumo?
Caused by trauma. A one way valve is created by a flap of tissue. Air can enter but not escape, leaing to air building up within the pleural space.
What are complications of a pneumo?
- Respiratory failure
- Cardiac arrest
- Rexpansion pulmonary edema
What is the treatment for pneumo?
- Sucking chest wound = 3 sided occlusive dressing
- If pt has suspected pneumo. and requires ventilation, ventilate with a lower tidal volume and rate of delivery to prevent increaseing intrathoracic pressure.
- Tension pneumo = needle decompression
What are s/s of a spontaneous pneumo?
- Acute onset of chest pain and dysnpea
- Severe stabbing chest pain
- Pain that radiates to shoulders
- Pain increases with inspiration (pleuritic)
- Anxiety
- Cough
What are the s/s of a tension pneumo?
- Hypotension
- Hypoxia
- Absent lung sounds
- Tracheal shift (away from the affected side)
- JVD
- Tachycardia
- Chest pain
- Dyspnea
