Pneumothorax Flashcards
What is a pneumothorax?
air in the pleural space
how could pneumothoraxes occur?
1) spontaneously
2) as a result of trauma
who is at a greater risk of getting a pneumothorax?
- tall, thin people
- males
- smokers
- cannabis users
- people with underlying lung disease
what are the symptoms of a pneumothorax?
1) chest pain
- usually of a sudden onset
2) pain is SHARP
- feeling of tightness
3) shortness of breath
4) rapid heart rate
5) rapid breathing
6) cough
7) fatigue
what would you find on examination of a pneumothorax?
1) hyper-resonant percussion note
2) reduced expansion
3) reduced expansion
4) quiet breath sounds on auscultation
what are the different types of pneumothorax?
1) primary spontaneous pneumothorax
2) secondary pneumothorax
3) tension pneumothorax
what is a primary pneumothorax?
- likely due to the formation of small sacs of air in lung tissue that rupture causing air to leak into the pleural soaked
- not caused by an injury or trauma its spontaneous
what is a secondary pneumothorax?
What factors increase your risk of getting a secondary penumothorax?
pneumothorax that occurs as a complication of an underlying disease
- COPD
- asthma
what is a tension pneumothorax?
- a progressive build up of air within the pleural space
- air escapes into the pleural space but cannot return causing a positive pressure ventilation
= an emergency
how would you investigate a pneumothorax?
- chest X-ray is usually sufficient
- or a CT scan
how would you manage a primary spontaneous pneumothorax that is < 2cm?
1) high flow oxygen
how would manage a primary spontaneous pneumothorax that is > 2cm>
1) high flow oxygen
2) aspirate air
3) if aspiration fails to improve the patients condition then perform a chest drain
what are the symptoms of a tension pneumothorax?
1) tracheal deviation
2) hypotension
3) raised JVP
4) reduced air entry on affected side
how would you treat a tension pneumothorax?
1) needle decompression
- done so by second intercostal space anteriorly, mid clavicular line
