Hydropneumothorax is defined as the presence of both air and fluid within the

pleural space The pleural cavity, pleural space, or interpleural space is the potential space between the pleurae of the pleural sac that surrounds each lung. A small amount of serous pleural fluid is maintained in the pleural cavity to enable lubrication bet ...

. An upright chest

x-ray An X-ray, or, much less commonly, X-radiation, is a penetrating form of high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Most X-rays have a wavelength ranging from 10 picometers to 10 nanometers, corresponding to frequencies in the range 30&nb ...

will show air fluid levels. The horizontal fluid level is usually well defined and extends across the whole length of one of the hemi

thorax The thorax or chest is a part of the anatomy of humans, mammals, and other tetrapod animals located between the neck and the abdomen. In insects, crustaceans, and the extinct trilobites, the thorax is one of the three main divisions of the cre ...

Signs and symptoms

This can be remembered by the 4 'S': straight line dullness, shifting dullness, splash, sound of coin.

Causes

Iatrogenic Iatrogenesis is the causation of a disease, a harmful complication, or other ill effect by any medical activity, including diagnosis, intervention, error, or negligence. "Iatrogenic", ''Merriam-Webster.com'', Merriam-Webster, Inc., accessed 27 ...

: Introduction of air during

pleural fluid The pleural cavity, pleural space, or interpleural space is the potential space between the pleurae of the pleural sac that surrounds each lung. A small amount of serous pleural fluid is maintained in the pleural cavity to enable lubrication be ...

aspiration in effusion * Presence of a gas-forming organism * Thoracic trauma

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be via CXR. CT is better to outline borders of air fluid levels, however, CT has a greater radiation exposure.

Treatment

Treatment includes ICD ( intercostal drainage) of fluid and air and treatment of underlying conditions.

References

External links

Diseases of pleura {{respiratory-stub