IATROGENIC PNEUMOTHORAX

Course overview

PNEUMOTHORAX IS GAS IN THE PLEURAL SPACE. THIS CONDITION CAN PRESENT IN ONE OF THREE WAYS: SPONTANEOUS (PRIMARY), SECONDARY, AND TRAUMATIC. THIS ACTIVITY FOCUSES ON A SUBSET OF TRAUMATIC PNEUMOTHORACES KNOWN AS IATROGENIC PNEUMOTHORAX THIS REFERS TO A PNEUMOTHORAX THAT HAS DEVELOPED SECONDARY TO AN INVASIVE PROCEDURE SUCH AS PULMONARY NEEDLE BIOPSY (TRANSTHORACIC AND TRANSBRONCHIAL), PLACEMENT OF A CENTRAL VENOUS LINE OR POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF PNEUMOTHORAX AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.