Pneumothorax Diagnosis Quiz: Assess Your Medical Skills

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Farah Naz, MBBS |
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Farah Naz is a Medical Professional with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Dow University of Health Sciences. Her academic journey included internships in Radiology, Cardiology, and Neurosurgery. Her contributions to medical research extend to two publications in medical journals, solidifying her position as a promising addition to the field.
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  • 1/15 Questions

    When a person is suffering from pneumothorax, which of the following are the anatomic alterations that occur?

    • The chest wall moves outward
    • The lung on the affected side collapses.
    • The visceral and parietal pleura separate
    • All of the above
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About This Quiz

Do you know everything about pneumothorax? You can take pneumothorax MCQ questions and answers to test your knowledge about this. It is a condition of collapsed lungs that could either be complete or partial. If you want to check how well you know about this problem, this quiz is for you. You can choose the correct answers and ace the quiz. If you miss out on any questions, we are here to help you with the correct answer. Also, you can share the quiz with others who want to learn about pneumothorax.

This quiz offers a detailed exploration of the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for pneumothorax, providing a comprehensive understanding of the condition. Whether you're a medical student, a practicing healthcare professional, or simply interested in medical knowledge, this quiz serves as an excellent tool to test and expand your understanding in a practical, interactive format.

Pneumothorax Diagnosis Quiz: Assess Your Medical Skills - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    A patient is diagnosed with a spontaneous pneumothorax showing the need for the insertion of a chest tube. What could be the best explanation for the nurse to provide this patient?

    • “The tube will drain fluid from your chest.”

    • “The tube will remove excess air from your chest.”

    • “The tube controls the amount of air that enters your chest.”

    • “The tube will seal the hole in your lung.”

    Correct Answer
    A. “The tube will remove excess air from your chest.”
    Explanation
    The best explanation for the nurse to provide the patient is "The tube will remove excess air from your chest." This is because a pneumothorax is a condition where air accumulates in the space between the lungs and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. Inserting a chest tube helps to remove the excess air and re-expand the lung.

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  • 3. 

    An emergency room nurse assesses a female client who has sustained a blunt injury in the chest wall. Which of the following signs would indicate the presence of a pneumothorax in this patient?

    • A low respiration

    • Diminished breathing sounds

    • The presence of a barrel chest

    • A sucking sound on the site of injury

    Correct Answer
    A. Diminished breathing sounds
    Explanation
    Diminished breathing sounds would indicate the presence of a pneumothorax in this patient. A pneumothorax occurs when air enters the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely. This can result in diminished or absent breath sounds on the affected side. Other signs of a pneumothorax may include sudden sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate. However, in this question, the only option that specifically indicates a pneumothorax is diminished breathing sounds.

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  • 4. 

    A male client was admitted with chest trauma after a motorbike accident and has undergone subsequent intubation. The nurse checks the client when the high-pressure alarm on the ventilator makes sounds and notes down that the client has an absence of breathing sounds in the right upper lobe of his lung. What other signs does the nurse immediately assess?

    • Right pneumothorax

    • Pulmonary embolism

    • Displaced endotracheal tube

    • Acute respiratory distress syndrome

    Correct Answer
    A. Right pneumothorax
    Explanation
    The nurse would immediately assess for signs of a right pneumothorax. A pneumothorax occurs when air accumulates in the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. In this case, the absence of breathing sounds in the right upper lobe of the lung suggests that there may be a pneumothorax on the right side. The high-pressure alarm on the ventilator could be indicating increased pressure in the pleural space due to the accumulation of air. Other signs of a pneumothorax may include sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, decreased breath sounds on auscultation, and asymmetrical chest movement.

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  • 5. 

    In a recumbent, immobilized patient, lung ventilation may become altered, leading to the respiratory complications such as:

    • Respiratory acidosis, atelectasis, and hypostatic pneumonia

    • Appneustic breathing, atypical pneumonia and respiratory alkalosis

    • Cheyne-Strokes respirations and spontaneous pneumothorax

    • Kussmail’s respirations and hypoventilation

    Correct Answer
    A. Respiratory acidosis, atelectasis, and hypostatic pneumonia
    Explanation
    In a recumbent, immobilized patient, lung ventilation may become altered due to reduced movement and decreased lung expansion. This can lead to respiratory complications such as respiratory acidosis, which occurs when there is an excess of carbon dioxide in the blood; atelectasis, which is the collapse of a lung or part of a lung; and hypostatic pneumonia, which is an infection that occurs when fluid accumulates in the lungs due to immobility. These complications can arise from the patient's inability to effectively clear secretions and maintain proper lung function while in a recumbent position.

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  • 6. 

    Which hemodynamic indices are found in a patient with a large hemothorax?

    • Increased CI

    • Decreased CO

    • Decreased QS/QT

    • Increased SV

    Correct Answer
    A. Decreased CO
    Explanation
    In a patient with a large hemothorax, there is a collection of blood in the thoracic cavity which can compress the lungs and interfere with their ability to expand and contract properly. This can result in decreased cardiac output (CO), as the heart is unable to pump an adequate amount of blood to the rest of the body. Therefore, the correct answer is decreased CO.

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  • 7. 

    Which of these measures best determines that a patient with pneumothorax no longer needs the chest tube?

    • A lot of drainage from the chest tube is observed.

    • Arterial blood gas (ABG) levels are observed to be normal.

    • The chest X-ray shows the lung is 35% deflated.

    • The water-seal chamber doesn’t fluctuate till no suction is applied.

    Correct Answer
    A. The water-seal chamber doesn’t fluctuate till no suction is applied.
    Explanation
    The water-seal chamber not fluctuating until no suction is applied indicates that there is no air leak in the pleural space, which is a sign that the lung has re-expanded and the pneumothorax has resolved. This is a reliable measure to determine that the patient no longer needs the chest tube.

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  • 8. 

    Nurse Oliver observes constant bubbling in the water-seal chamber of a closed chest drainage system. What should the nurse conclude?

    • The system is functioning normally

    • The client has a pneumothorax

    • The system has an air leak.

    • The chest tube is obstructed

    Correct Answer
    A. The system has an air leak.
    Explanation
    The constant bubbling in the water-seal chamber of a closed chest drainage system indicates that there is an air leak. When there is an air leak, air is able to enter the system and cause bubbling in the water-seal chamber. This is not a normal functioning of the system and should be addressed by the nurse. It is important to identify and fix the source of the air leak to prevent complications and ensure proper functioning of the chest drainage system.

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  • 9. 

    The doctor inserts a chest tube into a female patient to treat pneumothorax. The tube is then connected to water-seal drainage. The available nurse in charge can prevent chest tube air leakage by:

    • Checking and taping all the connections.

    • Checking patency of the patient's chest tube.

    • Keeping the head of the bed elevated.

    • Keeping the patient's chest drainage system below the level of the chest.

    Correct Answer
    A. Checking and taping all the connections.
    Explanation
    Checking and taping all the connections is the correct answer because it ensures that there are no loose or disconnected parts in the chest tube system, which could lead to air leakage. By thoroughly checking and securely taping all the connections, the nurse can maintain the integrity of the system and prevent any potential complications.

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  • 10. 

    Thoracentesis is performed on a chest-injured client, and no fluid or air is found. Blood and fluids are administered intravenously (IV), but the client’s vital signs do not improve. A central venous pressure line is inserted, and the initial reading is 20 cm H^O. The most likely cause of these findings is one of the following? 

    • Spontaneous pneumothorax

    • Ruptured diaphragm

    • Hemothorax

    • Pericardial tamponade

    Correct Answer
    A. Pericardial tamponade
    Explanation
    The most likely cause of the client's findings is pericardial tamponade. Pericardial tamponade occurs when fluid accumulates in the pericardial sac, putting pressure on the heart and preventing it from filling properly. This can lead to decreased cardiac output and poor circulation, which would explain the client's lack of improvement in vital signs despite IV fluid administration. The elevated central venous pressure reading of 20 cm H^O is consistent with pericardial tamponade, as it indicates increased pressure in the venous system due to impaired cardiac filling.

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  • 11. 

    After a lateral crushing chest injury, the obvious right-sided paradoxical motion of the client’s chest demonstrates multiple rib fractures, resulting in a flail chest. The complication the nurse should carefully observe would be:

    • Mediastinal shift

    • Tracheal laceration

    • Open pneumothorax

    • Pericardial tamponade

    Correct Answer
    A. Mediastinal shift
    Explanation
    After a lateral crushing chest injury, the client's rib fractures have caused a flail chest, resulting in paradoxical motion of the chest. This means that the affected area moves in the opposite direction during breathing compared to the rest of the chest. This can lead to a mediastinal shift, where the structures in the middle of the chest, such as the heart and major blood vessels, are pushed to one side. This complication is important for the nurse to observe because it can cause compression of these vital structures and lead to serious cardiovascular and respiratory problems.

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  • 12. 

    The nurse will replace the Pleur-O-Vac attached to the patient with a small, persistent left-upper lobe pneumothorax with a Heimlich Flutter Valve. Which of these is the best rationale for this?

    • Promote air and pleural drainage

    • Prevent kinking of the tube

    • Eliminate the need for a dressing

    • Eliminate the need for a water-seal drainage

    Correct Answer
    A. Eliminate the need for a water-seal drainage
    Explanation
    The rationale for replacing the Pleur-O-Vac with a Heimlich Flutter Valve is to eliminate the need for a water-seal drainage. A water-seal drainage system is typically used to prevent air from re-entering the pleural space after it has been drained. However, in this case, the small, persistent left-upper lobe pneumothorax can be effectively managed using a Heimlich Flutter Valve, which allows air and pleural drainage without the need for a water-seal drainage system. This eliminates the need for additional equipment and simplifies the management of the pneumothorax.

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  • 13. 

    An iatrogenic pneumothorax is NOT caused by which of the following:

    • Pleural Biopsy

    • Positive-pressure mechanical ventilation

    • Endotracheal intubation

    • Subclavian vein cannulation

    Correct Answer
    A. Endotracheal intubation
    Explanation
    Iatrogenic pneumothorax refers to a collapsed lung that is caused by medical intervention. Endotracheal intubation involves the insertion of a tube into the trachea to assist with breathing, and it does not directly cause a pneumothorax. However, the other options, such as pleural biopsy, positive-pressure mechanical ventilation, and subclavian vein cannulation, can potentially cause iatrogenic pneumothorax.

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  • 14. 

    According to the way gas enters the pleural space, a pneumothorax is classified as:

    • Open

    • Closed

    • Intrinsic

    • Extrinsic

    Correct Answer(s)
    A. Open
    A. Closed
    Explanation
    A pneumothorax is classified as open when air enters the pleural space through an external wound or injury, such as a gunshot or stab wound. On the other hand, a pneumothorax is classified as closed when air enters the pleural space without any external injury, usually due to a rupture in the lung tissue. Therefore, the answer "open, closed" correctly represents the two classifications of pneumothorax based on the way gas enters the pleural space.

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  • 15. 

    The nurse is planning to teach the client about a spontaneous pneumothorax. The nurse would base the teaching on the understanding that: 

    • Inspired air will move from the lung into the pleural space.

    • There is greater negative pressure within the chest cavity.

    • The heart and great vessels shift to the affected side.

    • The other lung will collapse if not treated immediately.

    Correct Answer
    A. There is greater negative pressure within the chest cavity.
    Explanation
    The correct answer is that there is greater negative pressure within the chest cavity. This is because in a spontaneous pneumothorax, air enters the pleural space causing the lung to collapse. This results in a loss of negative pressure within the chest cavity, which is essential for proper lung expansion during inspiration. The loss of negative pressure leads to difficulty in breathing and can cause symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. Therefore, understanding the concept of negative pressure within the chest cavity is important in teaching the client about spontaneous pneumothorax.

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Farah Naz |MBBS |
Medical Writer
Farah Naz is a Medical Professional with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Dow University of Health Sciences. Her academic journey included internships in Radiology, Cardiology, and Neurosurgery. Her contributions to medical research extend to two publications in medical journals, solidifying her position as a promising addition to the field.

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  • Apr 25, 2024
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  • Feb 27, 2014
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