pneumothorax

Question 1

what is the cause of pneumothorax?

Answer 1

Often spontaneous (especially in young thin men) due to rupture of a subpleural bulla.

It can be caused by asthma, COPD, TB, pneumonia, trauma

Question 2

what are 2 symptoms?

Answer 2

none or sudden onset of :

• Dyspnoea
• Pleuritic chest pain

Question 3

what are 4 signs of pneumothorax?

Answer 3

• Reduced expansion
• Hyper-resonance
• Reduced breath sounds on the affected sound
• Deviated trachea away from affected side in tension pneumothorax

Question 4

what are 2 management techniques?

Answer 4

• Place chest drain
• In emergency place a large bore needle partially filled with saline into 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line