Pneumothorax
PneumothoraxIt is a significant global health problem, with a reported incidence of 18–28/100 000 cases per annum for men and 1.2–6/100 000 for women.The term ‘pneumothorax’ was first coined by Itard and then Laennec in 1803 and 1819 respectively, and refers to air in the pleural cavity (ie, interspersed between the lung and the chest wall). At that time, most cases of pneumothorax were secondary to tuberculosis, although some were recognised as occurring in otherwise healthy patients (‘pneumothorax simple’).
Pneumothorax
Secondary spontaneouse (SSP) is associated with underlying lung disease, in distinction to primary spontaneous pneumothorax, PSP. Although tuberculosis is no longer the commonest underlying lung disease in the developed world,the consequences of a pneumothorax in patients with pre-existing lung disease are significantly greater, and the management is potentially more difficult.Pneumothorax
Traumatic pneumothorax results from penetrating or blunt trauma. Iatrogenic pneumothorax may follow procedures such as thoracentesis, pleural biopsy, subclavian or internal jugular vein catheter placement, percutaneous lung biopsy, bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy, and positive-pressure mechanical ventilation.Pneumothorax
Primary pneumothorax affects mainly tall, thin boys and men between the ages of 10 and 30 years. It is thought to occur from rupture of subpleural apical blebs in response to high negative intrapleural pressures. Family history and cigarette smoking may also be important factors. Secondary pneumothorax occurs as a complication of COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia, menstruation (catamenial pneumothorax), and a wide variety of interstitial lung diseases.Clinical Findings of Pneumothorax
Chest pain ranging from minimal to severe on the affected side and dyspnea occur in nearly all patients. Symptoms usually begin during rest and usually resolve within 24 hours even if the pneumothorax persists. Alternatively, pneumothorax may present with life-threatening respiratory failure if underlying COPD or asthma is present. If pneumothorax is small (less than 15% of a hemithorax), physical findings, other than mild tachycardia, are unimpressive.Clinical Findings of Pneumothorax
If pneumothorax is large, diminished breath sounds, decreased tactile fremitus, and decreased movement of the chest are often noted. Tension pneumothorax should be suspected in the presence of marked tachycardia, hypotension, and mediastinal or tracheal shift.
Because the ratio of extrapulmonary gas to solid tissue increases in a pneumothorax, hyperresonant percussion notes are produced over the affected area.
Breath sounds diminish as gas accumulates in the intrapleural space.
How to investigate patient with suspected PneumothoraxA-LABORATORY FINDINGS: Arterial blood gas analysis is often unnecessary but reveals hypoxemia and acute respiratory alkalosis in most patients. Left-sided primary pneumothorax may produce QRS axis and precordial T wave changes on the ECG that may be misinterpreted as acute myocardial infarction.
How to investigate patient with suspected Pneumothorax
B-IMAGINGDemonstration of a visceral pleural line on chest radiograph is diagnostic and may only be seen on an expiratory film. A few patients have secondary pleural effusion that demonstrates a characteristic air-fluid level on chest radiography. In supine patients, pneumothorax on a conventional chest radiograph may appear as an abnormally radiolucent costophrenic sulcus (the “deep sulcus” sign).Imaging for Pneumothorax
Standard erect PA chest x-ray. Lateral x-rays. Expiratory films. Supine and lateral decubitus x-rays. Ultrasound scanning. Digital imaging. CT scanning.Depth of pneumothorax.
MacDuff A et al. Thorax 2010;65:ii18-ii31.
Pneumothorax
PneumothoraxHow to investigate patient with suspected Pneumothorax
B-IMAGING…… In patients with tension pneumothorax, chest radiographs show a large amount of air in the affected hemithorax and contralateral shift of the mediastinum.Left-sided pneumothorax (arrows). Note the shift of the heart and mediastinum to the right away from the tension pneumothorax.