Pneumothorax In Pediatric Patients: Management Strategies To Improve Patient Outcomes
Matthew Harris1, Joshua Rocker2
1Fellow in EMS and Disaster Medicine, Newark Beth Israel, Newark, NJ, RWJ/Barnabas Health; Attending Physician, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY.
Abstract:
The clinical presentation of pneumothorax is highly variable. Spontaneous pneumothoraces may present with subtle symptoms when a small air leak is present, but can progress to hemodynamic instability in the setting of tension physiology. The etiologies are broad and the severity can vary greatly. A trauma patient with a pneumothorax may also have the added complexity of other potentially life-threatening injuries. While there is a wealth of evidence-based guidelines for the management of pneumothoraces in the adult literature, the approach to pediatric patients is largely extrapolated from that literature without a significant evidence base. In this issue, aspects of the history and physical examination, the use of various diagnostic imaging modalities, and the range of interventions available to the emergency clinician are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
Pneumothorax-II
Clinical Manifestations:
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....
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation II: ACLS Airway Management
Pneumothorax-I
Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.
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:
Acute Respiratory Failure-V
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...


