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In contrast, tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency and may be treated before imaging – especially if there is severe hypoxia, very low blood pressure, or an impaired level of consciousness. In tension pneumothorax, X-rays are sometimes required if there is doubt about the anatomical location of the pneumothorax. [16] [18]
Left-sided tension pneumothorax. Note the area without lung markings which is air in the pleural space. Also note the tracheal and mediastinal shift from the patient's left to right. Causes include any obstruction of blood flow to and from the heart. There are multiple, including pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, and tension pneumothorax.
Tension pneumothorax is the build-up of air into one of the pleural cavities, which causes a mediastinal shift. When this happens, the great vessels (particularly the superior vena cava ) become kinked, which limits blood return to the heart .
Obstructive shock may be due to cardiac tamponade or a tension pneumothorax. [1] Distributive shock may be due to sepsis, anaphylaxis, injury to the upper spinal cord, or certain overdoses. [1] [4] The diagnosis is generally based on a combination of symptoms, physical examination, and laboratory tests. [2]
Pneumothorax Flail chest is a life-threatening medical condition that occurs when a segment of the rib cage breaks due to trauma and becomes detached from the rest of the chest wall . Two of the symptoms of flail chest are chest pain and shortness of breath .
Left tension pneumothorax with a large, well-demarcated area devoid of lung markings with tracheal deviation and movement of the heart away from the affected side. Mediastinal shift is an abnormal movement of the mediastinal structures toward one side of the chest cavity .
Beck's triad is a collection of three medical signs associated with acute cardiac tamponade, a medical emergency when excessive fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac around the heart and impairs its ability to pump blood.
The affected lung "collapses" like a deflated balloon. A tension pneumothorax is a particularly severe form of this condition where the air in the pleural cavity cannot escape, so the pneumothorax keeps getting bigger until it compresses the heart and blood vessels, leading to a life-threatening situation.