Abstract

A CASE REPORT ON HYDROPNEUMOTHORAX

Kashish Jain H. and Dr. Chitra Hasini Savanth*

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Abstract

An abnormal presence of air and fluid in the pleural cavity is known as hydropneumothorax. It is caused by a blunt or a penetrating chest injury certain medical procedures or damage due to underlying lung disease or it may occur for no obvious reason. It is characterized by shortness of breath and sudden chest pain. A male patient, 67 years old who is IDV positive presented with a complaint of breathlessness which was suddenly in onset and progressive and cough along with expectoration with chest pain which was right sided pleuritic. Patient didn’t have any history of fever and the patient was labourer and reported to be consuming alcohol regularly past 30 years. His past medical history conveys that he had hypertension in the last 20 years and was on regular medication and was smoker for 30 years. Medical history was significant for HIV infection and Tb infection. So, the physician advised to take a report of CBC, LFT, Electrolytes, Chest Xray, ECG, HRCT thorax, Pleural fluid analysis these all parameters are showing an abnormal impression which confirms the diagnosis of hydropneumothorax. The management of hydropneumothorax mainly includes ICD insertion (intercoastal drain) to relive pressure on lung and antimicrobial therapy Analgesics were prescribed to treat chest pain. Proton pump inhibitors to prevent GI irritation, Nebulization to treat breathlessness. First criteria to confirm hydropneumothorax is significant change in chest Xray showing gross right hydropneumothorax with collapsed lung with symptoms of infective aetiology. Elevated WBC indicates the presence infection. HRTC thorax report revealed presence of hydropneumothorax.

Keywords: Hydropneumothorax, Blebs, Bullae, Pleurodesis, Thoracostomy tubes.