Tension pneumothorax resident survival guide: Difference between revisions
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{{familytree | A01 | | | | |A01= <div style="float: Left; text-align: left; width: 40em; padding:1em;">'''Characterize the symptoms:'''<br> | {{familytree | A01 | | | | |A01= <div style="float: Left; text-align: left; width: 40em; padding:1em;">'''Characterize the symptoms:'''<ref name="pmid20696690">{{cite journal| author=MacDuff A, Arnold A, Harvey J, BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group| title=Management of spontaneous pneumothorax: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010. | journal=Thorax | year= 2010 | volume= 65 Suppl 2 | issue= | pages= ii18-31 | pmid=20696690 | doi=10.1136/thx.2010.136986 | pmc= | url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&tool=sumsearch.org/cite&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=20696690 }} </ref><br> | ||
❑ [[Breathlessness]]<BR> | ❑ [[Breathlessness]]<BR> |
Revision as of 16:26, 11 March 2014
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency caused by accumulation of air in the pleural cavity. Air enter the intrapleural space through the lung parenchyma, or through a traumatic communication from the chest wall.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Life-threatening causes include conditions which may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated. Tension pneumothorax is a life-threatening condition and must be treated as such irrespective of the underlying causes.
Common Causes
- Blunt trauma
- Central venous catheter
- Mechanical ventilation
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Emphysema
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Asthma
Management
Shown below is an algorithm depicting the management of tension pneumothorax.
Characterize the symptoms:[1] ❑ Breathlessness | |||||||||||||||
Identify existing risk factors: ❑ | |||||||||||||||
Examine the patient: Vital signs ❑ Sever tachypnea Focal chest examination ❑ Reduced lung expansion on the affected side | |||||||||||||||
References
- ↑ MacDuff A, Arnold A, Harvey J, BTS Pleural Disease Guideline Group (2010). "Management of spontaneous pneumothorax: British Thoracic Society Pleural Disease Guideline 2010". Thorax. 65 Suppl 2: ii18–31. doi:10.1136/thx.2010.136986. PMID 20696690.