title: Pneumothorax In Pediatric Patients: Management Strategies To Improve Patient Outcomes.
abstract: The clinical presentation of pneumothorax is highly variable. Spontaneous pneumothoraces may present with subtle symptoms when a small air leak is present, but can progress to hemodynamic instability in the setting of tension physiology. The etiologies are broad and the severity can vary greatly. A trauma patient with a pneumothorax may also have the added complexity of other potentially life-threatening injuries. While there is a wealth of evidence-based guidelines for the management of pneumothoraces in the adult literature, the approach to pediatric patients is largely extrapolated from that literature without a significant evidence base. In this issue, aspects of the history and physical examination, the use of various diagnostic imaging modalities, and the range of interventions available to the emergency clinician are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Fellow in EMS and Disaster Medicine, Newark Beth Israel, Newark, NJ, RWJ/Barnabas Health; Attending Physician, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Associate Chief, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Cohen Children's Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, New Hyde Park, NY.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rocker
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy