What are the signs and symptoms of pneumothorax?

• A. Severe hypertension and tachycardia
• B. Absent lung sounds on the affected side
• C. Chest pain with productive cough
• D. Hyperresonance with decreased breath sounds

Answer: (B)

Pneumothorax causes air to fill the pleural space and the affected lung to collapse, so the most direct bedside sign is absent lung sounds on the side that’s not ventilating. When the lung can’t expand, there’s little or no air movement audible with a stethoscope, making this finding a clear indicator of the problem. Other signs, like a hyperresonant chest with decreased breath sounds, can also occur, but the absence of lung sounds on the affected side best reflects the loss of ventilation in that lung. The other options don’t fit as well: severe hypertension isn’t typical in pneumothorax, chest pain with productive cough suggests infection or bronchitis, and while hyperresonance with decreased breath sounds is common, it’s not as definitive as the absence of sounds on the side of the collapse.