Trauma: Pneumothorax Flashcards
What is Pneumothorax?
is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space
between the lung and the chest wall. (viseral & plueral layer)
What happens when you have the leakage of air between the layers?
You will have “balloon” pressure of air causing the lung to collapse. Since you will have more pressure in the pleural cavity. From the left side, resulting in tissues to be squeezed and cannot get correct expiration.
What is complete left lung Pneumothorax?
whats the problem with C?
Means complete left side is squeezed - sometimes it is so low that air pressure is bareley evident on chest xray or CT scan.
remebr complete means, will not heal on its own
Are all Pneumothoraxs bad?
No, small ones can heal on their own.
Surgical implications when it is larger than 1cm?
Will insert a flexible tube in needle between ribs and remove excess air.
Into the mid clavical line in standard.
How is it different for elders in surgical implications?
Some elders may need it in pleral caivty located in the lower bottom of lung and not the upper cavity.
What cause’s Pneumotharax
Can be caused by blunt force trauma:
car accident, underlying lung disease (copd), and even if cather put in the wrong way.
Pnemothorax can be cause dby Mechanical ventilation:
When a person relies on this to breath. It can cause imbalance. Causing the lung to collapse completley and the heart may be squeezed to the point that it can’t work properly.
What are the risk factors?
smoking, men are more prone, 20-40 years old, very tall, genetics
Ways to diagnose Pneumothorax?
A chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound is usually used to confirm its presence.[5] Other conditions that can result in similar symptoms include a hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural space), pulmonary embolism, and heart attack.[2][10] A large bullae may look similar on a chest X-ray.
What is the discoloration on a tomography scan show?
It will show black
What happens with “right” side Pneumothoroax?
Pressure is exerted on Vena cava downard to the Media styda.
What is Left Costophrenic Pneumothorax?
Air leakage that causes air pressure on the outside of the lung, this cuases partial lung collapse. Abnormal fibrous tissue (occasions) can be in the pleural cavitiy, leading to complete collapse.
In older men, they will have pleural cavity divided.
