types of pneumothorax
Last reviewed 08/2021
Various classifications of pneumothorax are been used around the world.
The most common classification system divides pneumothorax into:
- spontaneous (non-traumatic)
- primary spontaneous - no predisposing lung disease or history of thoracic trauma
- secondary spontaneous - underlying lung abnormality is present
- traumatic
- iatrogenic - caused by invasive medical procedures e.g. - central vein cannulation, pleural tap or biopsy, transbronchial biopsy, fine needle aspiration
- accidental - following direct injury to the thorax e.g – penetrating chest injury, laceration of visceral pleura by a fractured rib (1,2)
Pneumothorax may also be classified as
- simple pneumothorax - no shift of the heart or mediastinal structures
- tension pneumothorax
or
- open - “sucking” chest wound
- closed - intact thoracic cage (2)
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