A 23-year-old man is brought to A&E with sudden onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. A chest X-ray shows a visceral pleural line wit...

Question

A 23-year-old man is brought to A&E with sudden onset of shortness of breath and pleuritic chest pain. A chest X-ray shows a visceral pleural line with no lung markings peripheral to it, suggesting a primary spontaneous pneumothorax. He is otherwise stable. According to guidelines, what is the most appropriate initial step?

Accepted Answer

Needle aspiration

Answer

Immediate chest tube insertion

Answer

High-flow oxygen therapy

Answer

CT thorax

Answer

Observation alone

ukmla MCQ (SBA): Pneumothorax