Diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax.

Many diagnostic and therapeutic options exist for the evaluation and treatment of patients with pneumothorax. Guidelines from US and European professional societies and individual expert opinions differ in the approach to patient care. Advances in diagnostic techniques, such as real-time thoracic ultrasound, have added to the evaluation strategy. It is important for medical trainees and providers to become familiar with techniques utilized worldwide as they may be encountered in clinical practice. We review current evidence, expert recommendations, and compare professional society guidelines discussing the various diagnostic and management options for patients with pneumothorax to assist physicians and trainees involved in the care of hospitalized and outpatient adults who have primary, secondary, and traumatic iatrogenic pneumothorax. Management of traumatic non-iatrogenic pneumothorax is beyond the scope of this article, thus, not reviewed here.