4. 1 PNEUMOTHORAX
DEFINITION
A pneumothorax is the presence of air or gas within the
pleural cavity i.e. the potential spaces between the
visceral pleural & parietal pleural of the lungs.
This is usually from the defect on the lung surface e.g.
rapture bullae(Large blister ) or through the damage of
the chest wall e.g. following trauma.
Air within the pleural cavity causes the physiological
pleural seal to be lost ,meaning the normal negative
pressure in this space , that aid the lung expanding within
the chest wall movement is lost.
This impedes(prevent) lung expansion & leads to partial
or total lung collapse.
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7. EPIDEMIOLOGY/INCIDENCE
Annual incidence of pneumothorax is around 9% per
100,000
Primary pneumothoraces occur most commonly in tall thin
men aged between 20-40
They are less common in women- consider the possibility of
underlying lung disease e.g. LAM, Catamental
pneumothorax
Cigarette or cannabis smoking is a major risk factor for
pneumothorax increasing the risk by factor of 22 in men &
9 in women
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8. Cont..
The mechanism is unclear ; a smoking induced influx of
inflammatory cells may both break down elastic lung fibers
(causing bulla formation ) & cause small airway obstruction
(increasing alveolar pressure & the likelihood of interstitial
air leak)
More common in patient with Marfans syndrome &
homocystinuria
May rarely be farmilial
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9. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
As air enters the pleural space which normally have a
negative pressure , the elastic recoil in the lung tissue
causing either a partial or full lung collapse.
NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY
Pleural space has a negative pressure
Chest wall expand ►surface tension between parietal &
visceral pleural expands the lungs.
Lung tissue has an elastic recoil► innate tendency to
collapse inward.
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10. Traumatic pneumothorax
Closed pneumothorax : blunt trauma →lung damage →air
flow from the lung into the pleural spaces.
Open pneumothorax : penetrating trauma to the chest
wall→ pathway for air directly into pleural spaces.
Close & open pneumothorax : In closed pneumothorax air
travel in & out of the pleural spaces from the lungs .
However in an open pneumothorax a defect in the chest
wall allows air to move in & out of the pleural spaces.
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12. Iatrogenic pneumothorax
Induced in a patient by the treatment or comment of a
physician
Lung surgery
Central venous catheter insertion
Thoracentesis -removal of fluid around the lung
Mechanical ventilation
Esophageal procedure
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13. Spontaneous pneumothorax
Ruptured bleb→ air flow from the lungs into the pleural
spaces→ positive pleural pressure→ compressed lung.
Lung collapse until an equilibrium is achieved or the rupture
seals
Vital capacity & ↓ partial pressure of oxygen
Primary/idiopathic
Rapture apical subpleural bleb or bullae
Secondary
Chronic obstruction-COPD account for 50%
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15. Tension pneumothorax
Life threatening & can develop from any type of a
pneumothorax.
Air enters the pleural space through a one way mechanism
→air cannot escape.
Air accumulate in the pleural space with each inspiratory
phase→ ↑ pleural space pressure → shifting of
mediastinum→ compression of the contralateral lung →
hypoxia.
Eventually compress of the vena cava & atria →↓ venous
return to the heart & ↓ cardiac function .
Leads to rapid cardiopulmonary collapse.
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17. Cont..
Tension pneumothorax:
Spontaneous & traumatic pneumothorax can develop into a
tension pneumothorax if the defect that allow air into the
pleural space becomes one way valve (air enters during
inspiration but cannot escape during exhalation which
causes rising pressure in the pleural cavity , shifting the
mediastinum to the contralateral side
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18. Cont..
Simple
Mediastinum remains central
Clinical condition stable
Can wait for CXR to confirm diagnosis
Tension
Progressive build up of air in the pleural space, causing
a shift of the heart and mediastinal structures away
from side of pneumothorax
Clinical condition unstable
Do not wait for CXR to confirm diagnosis
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21. RISK FACTORS/CAUSES
Sex-men are at high risk
Smoking
Age
Genetics
Lung disease
Mechanical ventilation
History of pneumothorax
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22. CLINICAL PRESENTATION
Shortness of breath of varying degree depending on the
size of the pneumothorax & patients factors e.g. lung
disease.
Sudden onset chest pain, often pleuritic in nature , small
spontaneous pneumothorax can be asymptomatic
particularly in younger patients.
O/E there will be:
Hyperresonance on percussion
Reduced or absent breath sound on auscultation
Reduced chest expansion
Decrease in tactile fremitus
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23. Cont..
In cases of tension pneumothorax:
Patients will be hypoxic
Tachycardiac
Hypotensive
Potential distended neck vein
Tracheal deviation away from the affected side
Cyanosis
Tachypnea-abnormal rapid breathing
Cardiovascular-jugular venous distension
-Pulsus paradoxus-↓ stroke volume
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25. INVESTIGATION
Initial investigation should run alongside this(expect for
cases of tension pneumothorax when urgent needle
decompression is required in 2 or 3rd ICS
Tension pneumothorax is a clinical diagnosis &
management should not wait for imaging confirmation
1 Plain chest radiograph(CXR)
The size of pneumothorax is determined by measuring
interpleural distance at the level of hilum.
Should be performed in upright position (when possible)
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26. Cont..
General findings
White visceral pleural lining defining lung & pleural air
Bronchovascular markings are not visible beyond pleural edge
Deep sulcus
Ipsilateral hemidiaphragm elevation
Tension pneumothorax
Potential mediastinum shift
Trachea deviation
Ipsilateral hemidiaphragm flattening
Ribs are spread a part
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27. Cont..
2 Routine blood –FBC
-CPR
-U & Es & clotting
Arterial blood gas (ABG)
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
3 CT imaging
determine underlying cause in context of trauma &
concurrent injuries
Findings –air in the space , can evaluate the location ,
pleural pathology & lung disease
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29. Cont..
4 Ultrasound
Presence of a lung point –boundary between the lung &
pneumothorax
Lung sliding will be absent at the location of pneumothorax
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30. MANAGEMENT
Management is determined by both size or type of the
pneumothorax & patient factor.
As a minimal ensure all patient have sufficient analgesia &
started on oxygen if required.
For patient with chest drain inserted ensure it is attached
to underwater seal.
INITIAL MANAGEMENT
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax those that are small
(<2) & asymptomatic patients should be admitted for
observation.
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31. Cont..
Symptomatic or large primary pneumothoraces needle
decompression should be attempted placed in 2nd or
3rd intercostal spaces at the midclavicular line if no
improvement chest drain via seldinger technique to be
placed
5th ICS space in the anterior or midaxillary line in SAFTEY
TRIAGE is another option-followed by chest tube
placement.
Small spontaneous pneumothorax will required
admission for observation with a low threshold for
attempting needle decompression ,
Those that are large & symptomatic required chest drain
via seldinger technique to be placed.
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32. Cont..
Traumatic pneumothoraces will normally require surgical
chest drain insertion or otherwise admitting for observation
if small & asymptomatic.
Importantly there is no role in needle decompression in
traumatic non-tensioning pneumothoraces.
For traumatic tension pneumothoraces either needle
decompression (in 5th intercostal space mid-axillary line)
or finger thoracostomy is required prior to chest drain
insertion.
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33. Cont..
FURTHER INVESTIGATION
Considered in those with persistence air leak or failure of lung
re-expansion.
Spontaneous cases medical pleurodesis is often trailed
resulting in partial obliteration of the pleural space through
introducing irritant agent aiming to prevent recurrences
,alternatively Heimlich valve can be trailed a one way valve
attached to a chest tube & enable evacuation of air that is not
under tension.
Those failing these intervention or in traumatic cases should ne
considered surgical intervention which includes video
assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for pleurectomy +/-
pleural abrasion or open thoracostomy& pleurectomy .
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34. COMPLICATIONS
Hypoxemic respiratory failure-low level of oxygen
Respiratory or cardiac arrest-heart suddenly stop pumping blood
Hemopneumothorax-combination of pneumothorax &
hemothorax.
Bronchopulmonary fistula-abnormal communication btwn
bronchial tree & pleural cavity
Pulmonary edema –following lung re-expansion
Empyema-collection of pus in the pleural cavity
Pneumomediastinum-presence of air in mediastinum
Pneumopericardium-presence of air in pericardium
Pneumoperitoneum-presence of air in peritoneal cavity
Pyopneumothorax-accumulation of gas & pus in pleural cavity
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35. Cont..
COMPLICATIONS OF SURGICAL PROCEDURE
Failure to cure the problem
Acute respiratory distress or failure
Infection of the pleural spaces
Cutaneous or systemic infection
Persistent air leak
Re-expansion pulmonary
Pain at the site of chest tube insertion
Prolonged tube drainage & hospital stay
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37. R
•Right lung more translucent than left
•Faint line just visible (zoomed view to follow)
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38. •Pencil-thin white line
running parallel to chest
wall
•No lung markings lateral
to the line
Blade of right scapula
Right pneumothorax
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40. Simple Left Pneumothorax
No mediastinal shift
Small pleural
effusion
(common
finding)
Visceral
pleural line
(zoomed
view on next
slide)
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45. HEMOTHORAX
Hemothorax is the accumulation of blood in the intrapleural
spaces.
Bleeding is usually from intercostal artery in lacerated chest
wall or from underlying contused lung, heart or great vessel.
Massive hemothorax is bleeding of more than 1500ml into
pleural cavity
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46. EPIDEMIOLOGY
Hemothorax can be associated with a single rib fracture.
Approximately 150,000 deaths occurs from trauma each
year.
Approximately 3times this number of individuals are
permanently disabled because of trauma.
Chest injuries occurs in approximately 60% of multiple
trauma cases.
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47. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Accumulation of blood in the pleural space caused by
bleeding from; penetration or blunt lung injury, chest wall
vessels or intercostal vessels.
Hemothorax is manifested by;
>hemodynamic response-hypovolemic shock rapid
bleeding.
>respiratory response-slow bleeding.
Blood that enters the pleural cavity is exposed to the
motion of the diaphragm, the lungs, and other intrathoracic
structures.
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48. CLASSIFICATIONS
TRAUMATIC HEMOTHORAX
Occurs due to penetration injury of the lungs, heart, great
vessels, or chest wall
non Traumatic hemothorax
Malignancy pleural diseases(sarcoma, angiosarcoma)
Bleeding disorders(hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, rupture of
thoracic aorta)
Necrotizing infection
Pulmonary embolism with infarction
Iatrogenic hemothorax
Causes;
Central venous catheterization
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49. Cont..
Injury during trans lumber aortography
Thoracocentesis
Pleural biopsy
Trans brachial biopsy
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53. management
ABC of resuscitation
Large bow cannular &begin IV fluids-crystolliods
Vital check up including SPO2
Intercostal drainage tube thoracostomy
Large bore tube in 5th spacing between mid and posterior axillary
lines
Can be done before x-ray
Draining of blood from chest cavity
Thoracostomy(indicated when total chest tube output exceeds 1500ml
within 24hrs)
Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)
Shock care due to blood loss
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57. EMPHYEMA
DEFINITION
Accumulation of pus in pleural cavity.
Emphyema come from Greek word Empyein which means
pus-producing suppurates
Also called Pyothorax
Its also a secondary disease to other underlyind diseases
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58. EPIDEMIOLOGY
Etiology
Local cause
Chest causes; thoracic wall abscess
Penetrating wound
Oesteomyelitis of ribs
Pleural cause Pneumothorax
Hemothorax
Pulmonary cause Lung abscess
Bronchitis and Pneumonia
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60. STAGE 1 EXUDATIVE PHASE
This is purely on inflammatory process in which there is
increase in permeability of small blood vessesls leading to
exudation of fluid in the pleural cavity.
The fluid is very thin with low cellular content.
Approximately in 7 days
STAGE 2 FIBRINO PURULENT STAGE
This is whereby there is fibrin clot and fibrin membranes in the
pleural cavity leading to fluid loculation
From day 7 to 21 days
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61. CONTI…….
STAGE 3 ORGANIZING STAGE
Proliferation of fibroblasts on the pleural surface,which forms
covering preventing adequate lung expansion.
There is also scarring of pleural membranes with possible
inability of the lung to expand
Takes about 4 to 6 weeks
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62. TREATMENT &
Treatment of the underlying cause of precipitating factor
Mild cases –observation is appropriate
Patient with discomfort –give high oxygen concertation
Use of empiric broad spectrum antibiotic
Extensive phase -2cm intravascular incision bilaterally can
reduce further subcutaneous expansion
In severe cases ICT on one side or both sides placement
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68. CLINICAL FEATURES /SIGNS
Hypotension/shock(rapid weak pulse)
Grossly distended neck vein (raised JVP)
Elevated central venous pressure
Severe distress
faint heart sound
Penetrating injury in the proximity to the heart
The classic findings /a hallmark signs of beck triad
1Hypotension
2 Distended neck vein
3 Faint heart sound
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69. BECKS TRAID
Collection of three clinical signs associated with pericardial
tamponade which is due to excessive accumulation of fluid
within the pericardial sac
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70. SYMPTOMS
1 Sharp pain in the chest –pain may radiate to the nearby parts
of the body like abdomen ,arm ,neck & shoulder
2 trouble breathing /breathing rapidly
3 fainting ,dizziness/light headache
4 changes in skin color
5 heart palpitation
6 fast pulse
7 Altered mental status /confusion
8 decreased urine output
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72. MANAGEMENT
Removal of the fluid around the heart
Its done through pericardiocentesis –the procedure use a
needle that is inserted into the chest until in enters the
pericardial sac & the fluid is aspirated
Surgery
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73. COMPLICATION
Shock
Heart failure
Death
PERICARDIOCENTESIS & SURGERY COMPLICATION
Bleeding
Injury to the heart chambers
Heart attack
Infections
Injury to nearby organs
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