The needle should promptly be replaced by a chest tube for full evacuation of the remaining air within the pleural cavity. Open pneumothorax Open pneumothorax is the free movement of air in and out of the pleural space during respiration. In the thoracic injury patient, this condition can occur as a result of either penetrating or blunt chest trauma. Typically, when the passageway of the pneumothorax is approximately two-thirds the diameter of the trachea, air will pass through the pneumothorax airway rather than the normal passageway. This route offers the least resistance.
Additional treatment includes intubation and positive pressure ventilation.
Surgical repair may be necessary if the pneumothorax persists. Hemothorax Hemothorax is the accumulation of blood within the pleural space. A radiographic examination shows evidence of the presence of fluid within the pleural space . A needle thoracentesis will confirm that the fluid is in fact blood. Chest tube placement is indicated for evacuation of the blood accumulation.