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16- PNEUMOTHORAX
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Created by
Sara Fuad
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Cards (6)
Pneumothorax
is the presence of air within the
pleural
space
Pneumothorax
Air in
pleural space
leading to
partial
or
complete lung collapse
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Causes of pneumothorax
Spontaneous/primary: rupture of
subpleural apical blebs
(young thin men)
Secondary:
underlying lung disease
(ex: COPD) or
infection
Blunt
or
penetrating
trauma
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Presentation of pneumothorax
1.
Pleuritic
pain
2.
Tracheal deviation
- away
3.
Hyperresonance
4.
Onset
- sudden
5.
Reduced breath sounds
and breathing (dyspnea)
6.
Absent fremitus
;
Asymmetric
chest wall
7. X-ray shows
collapse
& presence of
visceral pleural line
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Tension pneumothorax
Medical emergency where
pleural tear
acts as a
one-way valve
causing
air trapping
in the
pleural space
, leading to
unilateral increase
in
intrapleural pressure
,
respiratory distress
,
shock
, and
cardiopulmonary arrest
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Treatment of tension pneumothorax
1. Immediate needle
decompression
(
thoracentesis
) in the
2nd
intercostal space
2.
Intercostal
tube drainage (chest tube) in the
5th
intercostal space
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