Pneumothorax

Question 1

Whats the typical type of person who gets a pneumothorax?

Answer 1

Tall thin men
Smokers
Cannabis
Underlying lung disease

Question 2

What are the symptoms of a pneumothorax?

Answer 2

Acute onset pleuritic pain 
SOB 
Hypoxia
Tachycardia
Hyper-resonant percussion 
Reduced expansion 
Diminished breath sounds 
Hamman's sign ('click' on auscultation left she)

Question 3

What would you do to investigate a pneumothorax?

Answer 3

CXR

CT chest - useful to differentiate bulls lung disease or small pneumothoraces

Question 4

How would you manage a pneumothorax?

Answer 4

O2 even if no drain
No treatment if asymptomatic and small
Aspiration (2nd intercostal, mid clavicular)
Chest drain if recurs - large bore cannula into 5th IC mid-axillary line

Question 5

Describe a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 5

EMERGENCY

Acute resp distress

Question 6

What might some of the symptoms be for a tension pneumothorax?

Answer 6

Trachea deviated to opposite side
Hypotension
Raised JVP
Reduced air entry on affected side