What therapy is used to facilitate air absorption in a pneumothorax?

What therapy is used to facilitate air absorption in a pneumothorax?

• A. Needle decompression
• B. Oxygen
• C. Small-bore catheter
• D. Chest tube with water seal

Answer: (B)

Increasing the inspired oxygen concentration speeds up the reabsorption of air from the pleural space. The air in a pneumothorax is largely nitrogen; giving high‑flow or 100% oxygen lowers the nitrogen partial pressure in blood, creating a diffusion gradient that pulls nitrogen (and thus pleural air) into the bloodstream more quickly. So supplemental oxygen accelerates the natural absorption of the pneumothorax. Other interventions like needle decompression or chest tube insertion are aimed at removing air and relieving pressure, especially in tension pneumothorax, rather than primarily accelerating air absorption.

Increasing the inspired oxygen concentration speeds up the reabsorption of air from the pleural space. The air in a pneumothorax is largely nitrogen; giving high‑flow or 100% oxygen lowers the nitrogen partial pressure in blood, creating a diffusion gradient that pulls nitrogen (and thus pleural air) into the bloodstream more quickly. So supplemental oxygen accelerates the natural absorption of the pneumothorax.

Other interventions like needle decompression or chest tube insertion are aimed at removing air and relieving pressure, especially in tension pneumothorax, rather than primarily accelerating air absorption.