Pneumothorax

Question 1

What is chylothorax?

Answer 1

Lymph fluid that has compressed the lung tissue which causes less air.

Question 2

Open pneumothorax?

Answer 2

Penetrating chest trauma that’s open to air and breaks skin surface

Question 3

Closed pneumothorax?

Answer 3

Air escapes from lung into pleural space but no opening to outside air. Happens with blebs that burst.

Question 4

What is primary spontaneous pneumothorax?

Answer 4

Due to formation of small sacs of air (blebs) in lungs that rupture and cause air to lean into the pleural space. This creates pressure on the lungs that leads to collapse

Question 5

What is tension pneumothorax?

Answer 5

It’s life threatening and rapid air entry into pleural space with nowhere to go. Pressure will build up/move lung tissue and cause pleural cavity to move as well (causes tracheal deviation, moves heart).

Question 6

What is decompression?

Answer 6

Practitioner will insert 14-16 gauge needle into 2nd intercostal space to manage tension pneumothorax.

Question 7

Common manifestation of pneumothorax?

Answer 7

Sudden onset, pleuritic chest pain, dyspnea, tachypnea, tachycardia, unequal lung expansion, decreased breath sounds/hyper resonance percussion tones on affected side, and open chest wounds make sucking noise when they breathe in

Question 8

What is used to confirm pneumothorax?

Answer 8

Chest x ray, mediastinal shift

Question 9

Common problems of chest tubes?

Answer 9

Obstructed/displaced chest tube, infection at skin site, pneumonia

Question 10

S+S of tension pneumothorax?

Answer 10

Cyanosis, extreme respiratory distress, distended neck veins, tachycardia, respiratory failure, hypotension, cardiac arrest.

Question 11

What assessment is important before removing a chest tube?

Answer 11

Patients chest x-ray shows fully expanded lung/no drainage in the collection chamber.