總結

• Accumulation of air in the pleural space.
• Primary spontaneous pneumothoraces occur in young people without known respiratory illnesses. Patients with pre-existing pulmonary diseases may develop secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces.
• A tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to decompress the involved hemithorax.
• Patients with pneumothoraces typically complain of dyspnoea and chest pain. In tension pneumothorax, patients are distressed with rapid laboured respirations, cyanosis, profuse diaphoresis, and tachycardia.
• First-line treatment of pneumothoraces includes observation with supplemental oxygen therapy, percutaneous aspiration of the air in the pleural space, chest-tube thoracostomy, and in some cases video-assisted thoracoscopy or thoracostomy.
• Patients who suffer spontaneous pneumothoraces are at risk for recurrence. Pleurodesis (either by mechanical abrasion or by chemical irritation of pleural surfaces) is used to limit the likelihood of recurrence.