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Pneumothorax (Tension)

By

Thomas G. Weiser

, MD, MPH, Stanford University School of Medicine

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2022 | Modified Sep 2022
View PATIENT EDUCATION
Topic Resources

Tension pneumothorax is accumulation of air in the pleural space under pressure, compressing the lungs and decreasing venous return to the heart.

Tension pneumothorax develops when a lung or chest wall injury is such that it allows air into the pleural space but not out of it (a one-way valve). As a result, air accumulates and compresses the lung, eventually shifting the mediastinum, compressing the contralateral lung, and increasing intrathoracic pressure enough to decrease venous return to the heart, causing shock Shock Shock is a state of organ hypoperfusion with resultant cellular dysfunction and death. Mechanisms may involve decreased circulating volume, decreased cardiac output, and vasodilation, sometimes... read more . These effects can develop rapidly, particularly in patients undergoing positive pressure ventilation.

Causes include mechanical ventilation (most commonly) and simple (uncomplicated) pneumothorax Pneumothorax Pneumothorax is air in the pleural space causing partial or complete lung collapse. Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously or result from trauma or medical procedures. Diagnosis is based on clinical... read more Pneumothorax with lung injury that fails to seal following penetrating or blunt chest trauma or failed central venous cannulation.

Symptoms and Signs of Tension Pneumothorax

Symptoms and signs initially are those of simple pneumothorax Pneumothorax Pneumothorax is air in the pleural space causing partial or complete lung collapse. Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously or result from trauma or medical procedures. Diagnosis is based on clinical... read more Pneumothorax . As intrathoracic pressure increases, patients develop hypotension, tracheal deviation, and neck vein distention. The affected hemithorax is hyperresonant to percussion and often feels somewhat distended, tense, and poorly compressible to palpation.

Diagnosis of Tension Pneumothorax

  • Clinical evaluation

Tension pneumothorax should be diagnosed by clinical findings. Treatment should not be delayed pending radiographic confirmation. Although cardiac tamponade Cardiac Tamponade Cardiac tamponade is accumulation of blood in the pericardial sac of sufficient volume and pressure to impair cardiac filling. Patients typically have hypotension, muffled heart tones, and distended... read more also can cause hypotension, neck vein distention, and sometimes respiratory distress, tension pneumothorax can be differentiated clinically by its unilateral absence of breath sounds and hyperresonance to percussion.

Pearls & Pitfalls

  • Tension pneumothorax should be diagnosed at the bedside based on clinical findings and treated immediately with needle decompression and/or tube thoracostomy.

Treatment of Tension Pneumothorax

  • Needle decompression followed by tube thoracostomy

Treatment of tension pneumothorax is immediate needle decompression by inserting a large-bore (eg, 14- or 16-gauge) needle into the 2nd intercostal space in the midclavicular line. Air will usually gush out. Because needle decompression causes a simple pneumothorax, tube thoracostomy should be done immediately thereafter.

How to do Needle Thoracostomy
VIDEO
How to Do Tube Thoracostomy
VIDEO
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NOTE: This is the Professional Version. CONSUMERS: View Consumer Version
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