Can pneumothorax cause abdominal pain?

Pneumothorax, particularly slowly progressive one, may present as abdominal pain. In addition to cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, pneumothorax should be considered as a differentiasl diagnosis of epigastric pain with preceding pain or other symptoms in a heavy smoker.

Where is pneumothorax seen most often?

A large pneumothorax is an objective indication for drainage. In the supine patient, air in the pleural space will usually be most readily visible at the lung bases (fig 2) in the cardiophrenic recess and may enlarge the costophrenic angle (the deep sulcus sign).

Which of the following ultrasound findings is most suggestive of a pneumothorax?

Features of the ultrasonographic examination for the diagnosis of pneumothorax include absence of lung sliding (high sensitivity and specificity), absence of comet-tail artifact (high sensitivity, lower specificity), and presence of lung point (high specificity, lower sensitivity).

How do you diagnose a pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax is generally diagnosed using a chest X-ray. In some cases, a computerized tomography (CT) scan may be needed to provide more-detailed images. Ultrasound imaging also may be used to identify a pneumothorax.

What are the complications of pneumothorax?

The complications of pneumothorax include effusion, hemorrhage, empyema; respiratory failure, pneumomediastinum, arrhythmias and instable hemodynamics need to be handled accordingly. Treatment complications refer to major pain, subcutaneous emphysema, bleeding and infection, rare re-expansion pulmonary edema.

Why does air get trapped in my stomach?

Gas in your stomach is primarily caused by swallowing air when you eat or drink. Most stomach gas is released when you burp. Gas forms in your large intestine (colon) when bacteria ferment carbohydrates — fiber, some starches and some sugars — that aren’t digested in your small intestine.

What is the most common cause of pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax can be caused by: Chest injury. Any blunt or penetrating injury to your chest can cause lung collapse. Some injuries may happen during physical assaults or car crashes, while others may inadvertently occur during medical procedures that involve the insertion of a needle into the chest.

How is pneumothorax diagnosed on ultrasound?

Sonographic signs, including ‘lung sliding’, ‘B-lines’ or ‘comet tail artifacts’, ‘A-lines’, and ‘the lung point sign’ can help in the diagnosis of a pneumothorax. Ultrasound has a higher sensitivity than the traditional upright anteroposterior chest radiography (CXR) for the detection of a pneumothorax.

What causes pneumothorax?

A pneumothorax can be caused by a blunt or penetrating chest injury, certain medical procedures, or damage from underlying lung disease. Or it may occur for no obvious reason. Symptoms usually include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. On some occasions, a collapsed lung can be a life-threatening event.

What is best treatment for pneumothorax?

Treatment for a pneumothorax usually involves inserting a needle or chest tube between the ribs to remove the excess air. However, a small pneumothorax may heal on its own.