CXR Case 087
A 67 yo lady is transferred from St Elsewhere in respiratory distress
Describe and interpret this CXR
CHEST X-RAY INTERPRETATION
There is collapse and consolidation of the left lung, with tracheal and mediastinal deviation.
* There is a large bore chest drain in situ toward the left apex and surgical emphysema on the left side.
CLINICAL CORRELATION
This lady has pneumonia and a secondary pneumothorax.
CLINICAL PEARLS
There is no RCT evidence that large bore drains are any more useful in pneumothorax than smaller bore (e.g. 12-14F).
*They are, however, proven to hurt a lot more during insertion and afterwards.
TOP 150 CXR SERIES
Prof Fraser Brims Curtin Medical School, acute and respiratory medicine specialist, immediate care in sport doc, ex-Royal Navy, academic| Top 100 CXR | Google Scholar | ICIS Course ANZ