ABSTRACT
Introduction 500 New directions in pneumothorax 500
Diagnostic developments500 Therapeutic developments 500 Ambulatory treatment 500
Non-iatrogenic traumatic pneumothorax 501 Incidence/epidemiology 501 Classification 501 Clinical presentation 501 Treatment/management 502 Persistent air leaks and surgical
management 504 Follow-up issues 504
Air travel 504
Iatrogenic pneumothorax 505 Incidence/epidemiology 505 Clinical presentation and diagnosis 505 Risk factors for iatrogenic pneumothorax 506 Treatment/management 507 Surgical management and persistent
air leaks 508 Tension pneumothorax 509
Incidence, epidemiology, and pathophysiology 509 Clinical presentation and diagnosis 509 Treatment 509
References 510
Non-Iatrogenic Traumatic Pneumothorax: ● Pneumothorax ranks second to rib fractures as the most common manifestation of chest injury. ● Twenty-nine percent to 72% of traumatic pneumothoraces may be occult emphasizing the need for a chest CT for
diagnosis that may reveal other abnormalities including hemothorax. ● e presence of subcutaneous emphysema in a trauma patient should prompt consideration of an occult
pneumothorax. ● Traumatic pneumothoraces usually require placement of a chest tube although carefully selected patients may be
observed closely. ● A traumatic pneumothorax in a mechanically ventilated patient should generally prompt placement of a chest tube.
