Pneumothorax

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Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Pneumothorax

Air around the lung; Air outside the lung

• Sudden sharp chest pain,made worse by a deep breath or a cough
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Easy fatigue
• Rapid heart rate
• Bluish color of the skin caused by lack of oxygen

Note: Symptoms may begin during rest or sleep.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Nasal flaring
• Anxiety, stress, and tension
• Hypotension (low blood pressure )

Stethoscope examination of the chest reveals decreased or absent breath sounds on the affected side.

Tests include:

• Chest x-ray to determine presence of air outside the lung
• Arterial blood gases

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine.3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.

Marx J. Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice.5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.

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