Question

Comparison of Gas Exchange Exemplars:

	Pneumothorax	Tension Pneumothorax	Flail Chest	Hemothorax	Acute Respiratory Failure
Pathophysiology
Etiology
Clinical Manifestations
Interventions

Answer 1

	Pneumothorax	Tension pneumothorax	Flail chest	Hemothorax	Acute respiratory failure
Pathophysiology	If the pleural space is invaded by gas from a ruptured bleb, the lung collapses until equilibrium is achieved or the rupture is sealed. As the pneumothorax enlarges, the lung becomes smaller.	Tension pneumothorax is rapidly lethal because the increasing intrathoracic pressure eventually displaces mediastinal structures, which can interfere with venous return to the heart, causing cardiovascular collapse and shock.	flail segment is a part of the chest wall which has lost its continuity with the chest wall and usually results from multiple rib fractures	The physiologic response to the development of a hemothorax is manifested in two major areas: hemodynamic and respiratory.	Respiratory failure may result from either a reduction in ventilatory capacity or an increase in ventilatory demand
Etiology	chest injury, lung disease ruptured air blisters, mechanical ventilation	fractured rib, chest injury, cystic fibrosis, COPD, lung cancer, infection	blunt trauma, rib fracture	chest injury, lung disease, mechanical ventilation	obstruction, injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, drug and alcohol abuse, chemical inhalation, stroke, infection
Clinical manifestations	sudden chest pain, shortness of breath	chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, cough, fatigue	severe chest pain tenderness, breathing difficulties, inflammation, bruising, uneven chest rise during breathing	pain, nervousness, dysnea, fast heartbeat, cold sweats, skin turning pale, high fever	rapid breathing confusion, bluish coloration, anxiety, rapid and shallow breathing, increased heart rate, profuse breathing
Intervention	oxygen therapy, chest tube insertion, surgery	surgery and chest tube insertion	oxygen supply, mechanical ventilation, surgery, head up positiont	oxygen therapy mechanical ventilation, thoracentesis, thoracotomy	oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, pain medication