Traumatic Bilateral Pneumothorax: Three Case Reports

Abstract

Thoracic traumas are more important among trauma patients that were admitted to emergency department. Thoracic trauma accounts for one-quarter of trauma deaths. Simultaneous bilateral pneumothorax, defined as the concurrent occurrence of pneumothorax in both hemithoraces, is a rare clinical event usually caused by thoracic trauma. In cases with thoracic trauma that can not be stabilized, even though posterioranterior (PA) chest radiograph is normal, in case of clinically suspected thorax should be evaluated with computerized tomography (CT). In such cases, it has been shown that CT is superior to routine X-ray in visualizing lung contusions, pneumothorax, and hemothorax. In this study we aimed that emergency physicians must consider traumatic bilateral pneumothorax too in patients with thoracic trauma, and to emphasize importance of CT in diagnostic approach.