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Sub-Category:

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

Sub-category: Pneumothorax

Symptoms:
sudden chest pain; shortness of breath; rapid breathing; coughing; fatigue

Root Cause:
Air leaks into the pleural space, causing partial or complete lung collapse, typically without trauma. Often due to ruptured air blisters (blebs) on the lung surface.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest X-ray or CT scan confirms the presence of air in the pleural space; physical examination may reveal reduced breath sounds and hyperresonance on percussion.

Treatment:
Observation for small pneumothoraces; supplemental oxygen; needle aspiration or chest tube placement for larger cases; surgery (thoracoscopy or thoracotomy) for recurrent cases.

Medications:
Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be prescribed to manage discomfort.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Estimated at 7.4–18 cases per 100,000 annually in men and 1.2–6 cases per 100,000 annually in women.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Smoking, tall and thin body habitus, male gender, age 20–40, and conditions like Marfan syndrome or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally favorable with appropriate treatment; recurrence rates are around 30% after the first episode.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Recurrence, tension pneumothorax, infection, or chronic lung issues in severe cases.

Traumatic Pneumothorax

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Pneumothorax

Symptoms:
chest pain; shortness of breath; difficulty breathing; visible chest injury; cyanosis (bluish skin); rapid heart rate

Root Cause:
Air enters the pleural space due to an external injury, such as blunt or penetrating chest trauma, causing lung collapse.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Chest X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound to identify air in the pleural space; physical exam may show diminished breath sounds or tracheal deviation in severe cases.

Treatment:
Immediate needle decompression if life-threatening; chest tube placement to remove air and re-expand the lung; surgical repair for extensive injuries.

Medications:
Antibiotics to prevent or treat infections, and pain management with opioids or NSAIDs.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Incidence is variable, depending on trauma prevalence; more common in trauma centers and emergency settings.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
High-risk activities (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, contact sports), rib fractures, medical procedures like central line placement, or penetrating injuries.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Favorable with timely intervention, though recovery may take weeks depending on severity.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Infection, tension pneumothorax, and long-term lung scarring or reduced function.