Massive Pneumothorax Without A Tension

massive pneumothorax

Case Presentation

A 24-years-old male with shortness of breath and chest pain presented to the emergency department. He was alert and oriented. Vitals were as follows; BP: 127/65 mmHg, HR: 101 beats per min, RR: 24 breaths per min, T: 37-degree celsius, SatO2: 94%. Physical examination revealed that normal breathing sounds on the left side, but decreased breath sounds on the right side of the chest. No JVD noted. Other examination findings were unremarkable.

Shortness of breath and chest pain started suddenly while he was playing soccer about 30 minutes ago. Since then, shortness of breath and chest pain increased. He has no known medical disease, allergy.

Bedside ultrasound revealed pneumothorax on the right.

Bedside Ultrasound Examination

Above video shows left side B mode ultrasound examination. Investigation was done in lung settings by using Butterfly iQ portable ultrasound. Lung sliding and comet tail artefacts are seen on examination which is normal findings.

Above video shows right side B mode and M-mode ultrasound examination. There is no lung sliding or comet tail artefacts in B mode, and M-mode revealed “barcode sign” which is seen in pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax - US - Lung - M-mode

Image shows “barcode sign” in M-mode examination. 

Bedside Portable Chest X-ray

spontaneous pneumothorax 1 - 18yo male

Bedside portable anteroposterior chest x-ray shows right sided large pneumothorax.

Cite this article as: Arif Alper Cevik, "Massive Pneumothorax Without A Tension," in International Emergency Medicine Education Project, November 25, 2019, https://iem-student.org/2019/11/25/massive-pneumothorax-without-a-tension/, date accessed: June 6, 2023

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