Immediate physiotherapy in perforating wounds of the pleural cavity and underlying lung.
Patients suffering from uncomplicated pneumothorax, haemothorax or haemopneumothorax of clinical significance are treated with fluid replacement, intercostal under-water drainage, antibiotics and routine physiotherapy. The commencement of routine physiotherapy may be delayed 8-60 hrs depending on the time the patient is admitted and arrangement of 'out-of-hours' physiotherapy services, but immediate physiotherapy produces superior results from every point of view.
D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006468:Hemopneumothorax / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006491:Hemothorax / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating