Can occur spontaneously, w/out apparent reason, as a complication of preexisting lung disease, as a result of blunt or penetrating trauma to the chest or from thoracentesis.
Manifestation:
dyspnea, tachycardia, tachypnea, absent breath sounds or diminished, hyperesonant percussion on affected side, chest pain, anxiety, shock (late symptoms)
TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX (expanding): hypotension, shock, tracheal deviation (late but definitive sign), distended neck veins
Treatment:
chest tubes to allow the lung to re-expand; low-level suction helps reestablish negative pressure
large bore needle or plastic IV cath may be inserted thru the chest wall as emergency tx of tension pneumothorax.
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