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Monday, November 23, 2009
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Spontaneous pneumothorax

Chest tube insertion  - series
Chest tube insertion - series
Pneumothorax - chest X-ray
Pneumothorax - chest X-ray
Respiratory system
Respiratory system
Alternative Names

Lung collapse - spontaneous


Symptoms
  • Sudden chest pain or chest tightness
    • Chest pain may be dull, sharp, or stabbing
    • Breathing or coughing makes pain worse
  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid respiratory rate
  • Abnormal breathing movement
    • Splinting --  bending over or holding the chest to protect against pain
    • Restricting chest wall motion when breathing (protection against pain)
  • Cough

Signs and tests

The doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the lungs and breath sounds.

The following tests may also be done:

  • Chest x-ray
  • Arterial blood gases


Review Date: 02/27/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).
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