Pneumothorax tracheal shift to which side?

Written by Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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When a patient suffers a pneumothorax, the trachea is displaced to the opposite side, and the heart is also shifted to the opposite side. In cases of left-sided pneumothorax, the heart's dullness boundary and the upper boundary of the liver during right-sided pneumothorax are both undetectable. There can be manifestations of subcutaneous emphysema in the neck, chest, and even the head and abdomen. The patient may exhibit diminished respiratory movements and a significant reduction or absence of breath sounds. When a small amount of air accumulates in the pleural cavity, weakened breath sounds on the affected side may be the only suspicious sign.

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Written by Hao Ze Rui
Pulmonology
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What are the main signs of pneumothorax?

If it is a small amount of pneumothorax, the physical signs are generally not obvious, especially when patients with emphysema develop pneumothorax, it is difficult to detect any signs. However, when a larger amount of pneumothorax occurs, inspection will reveal that the affected side of the chest is bulging and respiratory movements are reduced. Upon palpation, the trachea usually shifts towards the healthy side, tactile fremitus on the affected side is reduced, percussion results in hyperresonance or tympany, and auscultation shows reduced breath sounds, which can disappear in severe cases.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How long after a pneumothorax can the drainage tube be removed?

Pneumothorax occurs when the pleura ruptures and gas enters the pleural cavity. After the occurrence of pneumothorax, chest drainage by inserting a tube into the pleural cavity to remove the air is a common treatment. Generally, in most cases, after effective drainage for a few days, the lung can re-expand and the rupture can heal. Under these circumstances, it is common to clamp the drainage tube and observe for about two days. Then, a chest X-ray is re-examined and if there is no air, the tube can be removed. If air reappears after clamping, continued drainage is necessary. If the rupture does not heal and pneumothorax remains unresolved even after two weeks of drainage, and if the patient's physical condition allows, surgical treatment may be considered.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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What position should be taken for pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax occurs when the pleura ruptures and gas enters the pleural cavity, often compressing the lung tissue. Patients may experience symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and coughing. The choice of lying position for patients with pneumothorax depends on the severity of the pneumothorax and the degree of chest tightness. If the pneumothorax is mild and the symptoms are not obvious, the patient can lie flat. If there is significant chest tightness, a semi-recumbent position may be adopted. If the chest tightness is severe and the patient has significant difficulty breathing, they often assume a sitting position, frequently struggling to breathe, sweating profusely, and may even experience respiratory failure, requiring immediate attention.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax auscultation what sound?

Pneumothorax is a common medical emergency. After suffering from a pneumothorax, symptoms often include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Regarding lung auscultation by a doctor after pneumothorax, the sound heard primarily depends on the amount of air accumulated. If the air accumulation is minimal, the physical signs may not be obvious. If there is a substantial amount of air, the breathing sounds during auscultation are reduced. In cases of a large pneumothorax, the breathing sounds may disappear, while on the healthy side, the breathing sounds may be coarser and intensified. Therefore, if pneumothorax is suspected during a lung auscultation examination, an immediate imaging test should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax is what disease?

Pneumothorax refers to the condition where gas enters the pleural cavity. Normally, the pleural cavity is a sealed space formed by the visceral pleura covering the lung surface and the parietal pleura on the chest wall. When gas enters the pleural cavity due to some reason, causing a state of gas accumulation, it is called pneumothorax. The causes of pneumothorax can be diseases of the lungs themselves or gas produced after the lungs and chest wall are injured by external forces. Typically, the condition occurs when the pleura near the lung surface ruptures, allowing gas to enter the pleural cavity, which is referred to as pneumothorax.