Traumatic pneumothorax

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Pneumothorax - chest X-ray

Respiratory system

Collapsed lung

History of recent chest injury or high-risk procedure, plus:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing, rapid
• Chest tightness
• Hypoxemia (low oxygen level in blood)

Listening to the chest with a stethoscope may reveal decreased breath sounds on one side of the chest. There may be a bluish coloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen. The affected person may have a rapid heart rate.

Tests:

• Chest x-ray
• Pulse oximetry
• Arterial blood gas

Review Date: 08/11/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.