If inserting a tube, a simple pneumothorax with only gas in the pleural cavity can be handled with a thin tube. Other substances like blood or exudate entering the pleural cavity causing effusion and pneumothorax to coexist, is termed hydro-pneumothorax instead of simple pneumothorax. Clinically, it can be more specifically divided into seropneumothorax, hemopneumothorax, or pyopneumothorax, etc. A small tube may not be sufficient.
Currently, for this patient, the most clearly visible thing on the film is the pneumothorax line; the lung collapse hasn't reached an extreme percentage. Are there any obvious signs of exudate in the pleural cavity?
"Teacher, it's difficult to differentiate hydro-pneumothorax just from an X-ray." Xie Wanying pointed out.
