Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
Spontaneous pneumothorax management
Abstract:
Guidelines for the management of spontaneous pneumothorax were published by the British Thoracic Society (BTS) in 2003. The aim of our study was to assess compliance with the BTS guidelines. A retrospective review was performed on all spontaneous pneumothoraces admitted to our hospital between June 2006 and December 2007. There were 29 pneumothoraces during the study period, 20 of which were primary spontaneous pneumothoraces (PSPs). All 15 (100%) large PSPs had an intercostal drain (ICD) inserted with a mean calibre of 20Fr, however only 1 of the 15 (6.7%) had a prior attempt at aspiration. High flow oxygen was used in 3/20 (15%) PSPs and 1/9 (11%) secondary spontaneous pneumothoraces (SSPs). 5/6 (83%) of large SSPs had ICDs placed with a mean calibre of 23.3Fr. Compliance with BTS guidelines was suboptimal. In particular, simple aspiration was underutilised with an over-reliance on unnecessary tube thoracostomy. Moreover, the calibre of intercostal drains used was in excess of BTS recommendations. This study highlights the need to formally adopt BTS guidelines, thereby establishing a more standardised practice which should improve management of spontaneous pneumothoraces.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
Pneumothorax II: Pathophysiology
Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
