This is a a condition every anesthetist must know how to diagnose and manage

PNEUMOTHORAX
This is a a condition every anesthetist must know how to diagnose and manage
It can occur intra operatively secondary to barotrauma in patients with ARDS, Asthma or emphysema

It can also occur with positive pressure ventilation to patients with fractured ribs
The fractured rib scrapes and punctures the lung when it blows up with positive pressure ventilation
It is thus safe to put in a chest drain before anesthetizing patients with fractured ribs

The pneumothorax that can occur intra operatively can progress to tension, hemodynamic collapse and shock to pulseless electrical activity

It initially heralds itself with high airway pressures.
Insertion of a 14 G cannula into the chest is thus life saving. It will deflate the pleural cavity and there will be immediate restoration of hemodynamic variables…