Pneumothorax Flashcards
What is a pneumothorax?
Air in the pleural space, separating the lung from the chest wall.
What are the four causes of a pneumothorax?
- Spontaneous
- Trauma
- Iatrogenic
- Secondary (lung pathology e.g. infection/asthma)
What is the triangle of safety made up of?
- Anterior axillary line
- Mid axillary line
- 5th ICS
Where (externally) is the anterior axillary line?
Lateral edge of pec major
Where (externally) is the mid axillary line?
Lateral edge of lat dorsi
What symptoms may a pneumothorax have?
- Dyspnoea
- Pleuritic chest pain
What is pleuritic chest pain?
- Sharp pain
- Worse on deep inspiration, coughing/sneezing etc.
What will you hear on auscultation and percussion?
- Absent breath sounds
- Hyper resonant percussion
What will you see on observation/palpation?
- Possible tracheal deviation
- Reduced chest expansion
What signs will you see relevant to NEWS readings?
- Tachypnoea
- Tachycardia
- Hypoxia
What bloods are important?
- ABG (hypoxia)
- Inflammatory markers (secondary PT)
What will you see on CXR?
- Air in pleural space
- Lung collapse
How would you measure a PT?
CXR- Edge of lung to chest wall at level of hilum
What guidelines are used to measure a PT?
BTS
Why would you use a CT?
- Smaller patients (only if less time critical)
- To accurately assess size
