Surgery Definition – What is Tension Pneumothorax?
Surgery Definition – What is Tension Pneumothorax?
Tension pneumothorax is a form of life threatening condition that need to be considered while assessing the breathing system. Tension pneumothorax is caused by the accumulation of the air under pressure in the thoracic cavity which later compresses the ipsilateral lung and displacing the contents of the mediastinum and the lung contralaterally. The pathology of tension pneumothorax is associated with the formation of one-way valve mechanism which introduces air on inspiration. This later blocks the release of the air while expiration.
Tension pneumothorax is detected by an obvious sign of distress and hypoxia, deviation of the tracheal to the contralateral sides, decreased ipsilateral expansion of the chest, decreased air entry ipsilateral on auscultation, hyper resonance to percussion over ipsilateral side and distention of the neck vein, tachypnea and tachycardia.
Tension pneumothorax is treated immediately by decompressing with needle thoracocentesis which follow later with insertion of chest drain (thoracostomy). Thoracocentesis is performed on the second intercostal space at the junction of the manubriosternum in the mid clavicular line while chest drain insertion is performed in the 5th intercostal space at the mid axial line.
Tension pneumothorax is a form of life threatening condition that need to be considered while assessing the breathing system. Tension pneumothorax is caused by the accumulation of the air under pressure in the thoracic cavity which later compresses the ipsilateral lung and displacing the contents of the mediastinum and the lung contralaterally. The pathology of tension pneumothorax is associated with the formation of one-way valve mechanism which introduces air on inspiration. This later blocks the release of the air while expiration.
Tension pneumothorax is detected by an obvious sign of distress and hypoxia, deviation of the tracheal to the contralateral sides, decreased ipsilateral expansion of the chest, decreased air entry ipsilateral on auscultation, hyper resonance to percussion over ipsilateral side and distention of the neck vein, tachypnea and tachycardia.
Tension pneumothorax is treated immediately by decompressing with needle thoracocentesis which follow later with insertion of chest drain (thoracostomy). Thoracocentesis is performed on the second intercostal space at the junction of the manubriosternum in the mid clavicular line while chest drain insertion is performed in the 5th intercostal space at the mid axial line.
