Tension Pneumothorax Quiz
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Medically Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO
Emergency department
Eisaku Kamakura, MD
Respiratory medicine
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Learn more about Tension pneumothorax
Content updated on Sep 20, 2022
What is tension pneumothorax?
A pneumothorax is leaking of air from the lungs, into the space around the lungs and heart. In tension pneumothorax, this pressure builds up and can cause life threatening blood flow problems in the heart and lungs. Risk factors include smoking, emphysema and genetic diseases.
Symptoms of tension pneumothorax
Feeling breathless
Chest pain
Pain across my entire chest
Back pain
Cold sweats
Left-sided chest pain
Questions your doctor may ask to check for tension pneumothorax
Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose tension pneumothorax
Are you breathless or having hard time breathing?
Do you have any chest pain?
Do you have pain over your entire chest?
Do you have back pain?
Do you have cold sweats?
Treatment for tension pneumothorax
This requires emergency medical care. A needle or tube is placed in the chest to let the excess air and pressure out. In repeated cases, a procedure or surgery may be done to seal the air leak permanently.
View the symptoms of Tension pneumothorax
Diseases related to Tension pneumothorax
References
Roberts DJ, Leigh-Smith S, Faris PD, Blackmore C, Ball CG, Robertson HL, Dixon E, James MT, Kirkpatrick AW, Kortbeek JB, Stelfox HT. Clinical Presentation of Patients With Tension Pneumothorax: A Systematic Review. Ann Surg. 2015 Jun;261(6):1068-78. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000001073. PMID: 25563887.
https://journals.lww.com/annalsofsurgery/Fulltext/2015/06000/Clinical_Presentation_of_Patients_With_Tension.9.aspx
Bethel J. Tension pneumothorax. Emerg Nurse. 2008 Jul;16(4):26-9. doi: 10.7748/en2008.07.16.4.26.c6606. PMID: 18672788.
https://rcnpublishing.com/doi/abs/10.7748/en2008.07.16.4.26.c6606
Barton ED. Tension pneumothorax. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 1999 Jul;5(4):269-74. doi: 10.1097/00063198-199907000-00016. PMID: 10407699.
https://journals.lww.com/co-pulmonarymedicine/Abstract/1999/07000/Tension_pneumothorax.16.aspx
Sukumar SM. An atypical tension pneumothorax. Clin Med (Lond). 2020 Mar;20(Suppl 2):s52. doi: 10.7861/clinmed.20-2-s52. PMID: 32409372; PMCID: PMC7243505.
https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/clinmedicine/20/Suppl_2/s52
Medically Reviewed By:
Maxwell J. Nanes, DO
Emergency department
Eisaku Kamakura, MD
Respiratory medicine
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