Question

A 17-year-old high school senior presents to the clinic in acute respiratory distress. between shallow breaths he states he was at home finishing his homework when he suddenly began having right-sided chest pain and severe shortness of breath. he denies any recent traumas or illnesses. his past medical history is unremarkable. he doesn't smoke, but drinks several beers on the weekend. he has tried marijuana several times but denies any other illegal drugs. he is an honour student and on the basketball team. his parents are both in good health. he denies any recent weight gain, weight loss, fever, or night sweats. examination shows a tall, thin young man in obvious distress. he is diaphoretic and breathing at a rate of 35 breaths per minute. auscultation reveals no breath sounds on the right side of his superior chest wall. on percussion he is hyperresonant over the right upper lobe. with palpation he has absent fremitus over the right upper lobe. what disorder of the thorax or lung best describes his symptoms?

Answer 1

Based on the mentioned symptoms, the disorder that best describes his condition is Spontaneous pneumothorax and surgery is needed in order to overcome it. The presence of air in the form of small packs between the lungs and chest is a formal way of describing this condition and this may lead to damage in the lungs.