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Tension Pneumothorax: Causes & Care

Tension pneumothorax is a progressive build-up of air in the pleural space that occurs when air enters during inhalation but cannot escape, causing increased intrathoracic pressure. It can result from trauma, underlying lung disease, or mechanical ventilation. Key signs include sudden chest pain, dyspnea, diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side, and tachycardia. Treatment involves chest tube insertion to drain air and restore normal breathing, along with oxygen therapy, analgesics, and encouraging coughing and deep breathing.

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Justin Maverick
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251 views3 pages

Tension Pneumothorax: Causes & Care

Tension pneumothorax is a progressive build-up of air in the pleural space that occurs when air enters during inhalation but cannot escape, causing increased intrathoracic pressure. It can result from trauma, underlying lung disease, or mechanical ventilation. Key signs include sudden chest pain, dyspnea, diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side, and tachycardia. Treatment involves chest tube insertion to drain air and restore normal breathing, along with oxygen therapy, analgesics, and encouraging coughing and deep breathing.

Uploaded by

Justin Maverick
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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TENSION PNEUMOTHORAX

• Is progressive build-up of air within the pleural space, usually due to a lung laceration
which allow air to escape into the pleural space but not to return.
• Air enters the pleural space with each inspiration but cannot escape.

MODIFIABLE FACTORS: NON- MODIFIABLE FACTORS:


• Penetrating Trauma (Stabbing injury • Family history of
or gunshot) pneumothorax
• Patient with Pneumothorax • Tall, thin young man
• Smokers
• Underlying lung disease
• Chest Surgery
• Mechanical Vent.
• Lung disease (COPD, cystic fibrosis,
pneumonia)
• Ruptured air blister

Air enters the pleural space through each inspiration but cannot escape

Build-up of air under pressure in the thorax

Excessive pressure reduces effectiveness of respiration

Caused increased intrathoracic pressure and shifting of the mediastinal


contents to the unaffected side (mediastinal shift0

Lung collapse

CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
• Penetrating Trauma (Stabbing injury or gunshot)
• Sudden sharp pain in the chest
• Dyspnea (common symptoms)
• Diminished or absent of breath sounds on the affected side
• Decreased respiratory escursion on affected side
• Weak, rapid pulse (tachycardia)
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
• Chest X-ray- reveals area and degree of pneumothorax
• ABG Analysis
- Incr. pCO2
- Dcr. po2
- Dcr. pH
• LUNG SCAN shows ventilation-perfusion ratio mismatched

NURSING DIAGNOSIS
1. Acute Pain (decrease pain)
2. Impaired gas exchange (maintain adequate ventilation)
3. Ineffective breathing pattern (achieve normal breathing pattern)

NURSING INTERVENTION
1. Provide nursing care for the client with an ET tube
2. Suction secretions, vomitus and blood
3. Restore and promote adequate respiratory function
- Assist with thoracentesis and provide appropriate nursing care
- Assist with insertion of chest tube
- Continuously evaluate respiratory pattern and report changes.
4. Provide relief/ control of pain
- Administer narcotics, analgesics, sedatives as ordered and monitor the effects.
5. Administer oxygen therapy as ordered.

S- upplemental oxygen
• To relieve respiratory distress caused by hypoxemia
P- lace client in high fowler’s position, if tolerated and not contraindicated
• To enhance chest expansion
A- ssess cardiovascular and respiratory status
• To identify possible complications
C- hest tube drainage system must to monitored
• To ensure proper placement
E- ncourage coughing, deep breathing, turning and use od incentive spirometry
• To enhance mobilization of secretion and prevent atelectasis
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
• Active ROM exercises to affected arm (physiotherapist)
• Chest tube to water-seal drainage
• Incentive spirometry
• Occulusive dressing (for open pneumothorax)
• Oxygen Therapy
• Surgical Repair- pneumonectomy

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