Pneumothorax

Question 1

Pneumothorax?

Answer 1

Air in the pleural space

Question 2

Pneumothorax variants?

Answer 2

Haemothorax (blood), Chylothorax (lymph)

Question 3

Pneumothorax aetiology?

Answer 3

Spontaneous; typically tall thin males.

Secondary; occurs in patients with preexisting lung disease.

Traumatic; penetrating chest injury.

Question 4

Pneumothorax epidemiology?

Answer 4

Mainly in 20-40 yr olds 4 x more common in MALES

Question 5

Pneumothorax symptoms (4)?

Answer 5

may be asymptomatic, sudden onset breathlessness, pleuratic chest pain, distress with rapid shallow breathing in tension pneumothorax.

Question 6

Pneumothorax signs?

Answer 6

Signs of respiratory distress, Reduced expansion, Hyper-resonance to percussion, Reduced breath sounds

Question 7

Pneumothorax tension pneumothorax signs?

Answer 7

Severe respiratory distress Tachycardia Hypotension Cyanosis Distended neck veins Tracheal deviation away from the side of the pneumothorax

Question 8

Pneumothorax investigations?

Answer 8

CXR (dark area with no vascular markings) ABG (check for hypoxaemia)

Question 9

Pneumothorax management for tension pneumothorax?

Answer 9

Maximum O2 Insert large bore needle into 2nd intercostal space MCL. up to 2.5L of air can be aspirated.