Question 1

what is the difference between a pneumothorax and a hemothorax?

Accepted Answer

Air leak, blood leak: A collapsed lung (pneumothorax) is due to an air leak from the inside of the lung through the covering of the lung, out into the space between the lung and the ribs. The site of the leak has some damage, which heals itself later. With a hemothorax, it is not air that is filling the chest cavity between the lung and the rib cage, but it is blood (the blood can come from any broken vein or artery.

Question 2

what is the difference between a hemothorax and a pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Different: Hemothorax is blood fluid rhat collects around the lung from trauma or injury as an example. Pneumothorax  is collection of air around the lung from an air leak.

Question 3

what are symptoms of hemothorax vs. tension pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

Chest pain: Hemothorax and tension pneumothorax will both present with chest pain and shortness of breath.  Both can also present with severely low blood pressure.  However, this can depend on the amount of blood lost in a hemothorax.  Both are considered surgical emergencies and need to be treated.

Question 4

what assessments would allow you to best differentiate a pneumothorax from a hemothorax?

Accepted Answer

CXR: Pneumothorax is air in the pleural cavity and corresponding partial or full collapse of the lung.  Hemothorax is blood in the pleural cavity with compression of the lung.  Hemothorax occurs most often in the setting of trauma. Pneumothorax can also occur from trauma, but also spontaneously if there is a lung "bleb".  Both can occur simultaneously.  Cxr is usually the tool, occasionally chest ct/us.

Question 5

what is the differential diagnosis of hemothorax vs. tension pneumothorax?

Accepted Answer

What is in the chest: Tension pneumothorax occurs when air under pressure fills the space around the lung. This can compress the heart and impede blood from entering the heart. Hemothorax occurs when blood is filling the space around the lungs. You can have both air and blood in your chest. Both conditions can be dangerous and require management by a physician.

Question 6

what is the difference between pneumothorax and emphysema on x-ray?

Accepted Answer

CXR: A pneumothorax will appear as a black space.  Its a dropped decompressed lung.  Emphysema will appear as hyperinflated lung.  Rib counting will help you determine this.

Question 7

what is the difference between pneumothorax and pulmonary edema?

Accepted Answer

PTX vs. Pulm Edema: Pulmonary edema can be though of as backed up fluid in the lungs, usually due to diseases involving the heart or the lung. Pneomothorax can be thought of as rupture of a part of the lung. Both can be serious and their treatments are different.

Question 8

doc, what is the difference between pneumothorax and emphysema?  thank you.i am a med student

Accepted Answer

Big difference: pneumothorax when the integrity of negative pressure around the lung were violated, so air escape from outside in and push against the lung to the point of collapse,tension pneumothorax when the lung completely collapsed.
emphysema is a chronic disease, where the alveoli get so stretched it loose the alasticity and air get trapped inside, and that will cause problem with exchange of the O2 and CO2

Question 9

how does a newborn infant get a pneumothorax  and what's the difference between that an a tension pneumo?

Accepted Answer

Colapsed Lung: A pneumothorax occurs when air gets in the the space between the chest wall and the lung.  This space should not contain anything.  So when air gets in, the lungs have to become smaller.  A tension-pneumothorax is when the contents of the chest (heart, lung, collapsed lung) all shift to one side.  Typically this is life threatening because blood cannot flow well.  We don't always know why this is.

Question 10

really nervous about pneumothorax, what can i do?

Accepted Answer

Stay active: Exercise is a great way to relieve stress. Your body releases endorphins during exercise, which can help you feel calm. If you exercise 30 - 60 minutes a day, your stress levels can improve. When stressed, take 5 slow, deep breaths with your eyes closed, then roll your shoulders forward 5 times, then back 5 times. This will slow your heart rate and release tension in your neck and shoulders.

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What is the difference between pneumothorax and hemothorax

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What is the difference between a pneumothorax and a hemothorax?

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What is the difference between a hemothorax and a pneumothorax?

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What are symptoms of hemothorax vs. tension pneumothorax?

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What assessments would allow you to best differentiate a pneumothorax from a hemothorax?

A member asked:

What is the differential diagnosis of hemothorax vs. tension pneumothorax?

A member asked:

What is the difference between pneumothorax and emphysema on x-ray?

A member asked:

What is the difference between pneumothorax and pulmonary edema?

A member asked:

Doc, what is the difference between pneumothorax and emphysema? thank you.i am a med student

A member asked:

How does a newborn infant get a pneumothorax and what's the difference between that an a tension pneumo?

A member asked:

Really nervous about pneumothorax, what can i do?

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