Your patient is suspected of having a pneumothorax and the physician is performing transillumination to assess the situation. What finding would confirm that there is a pneumothorax?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Transillumination is performed by shining a light through the chest and comparing the amount of light that passes through each side. In the case of a pneumothorax, there is an accumulation of air in the pleural space that causes the lung to collapse, leading to an increase in the amount of light that is able to pass through the affected side. Therefore, increased illumination on the affected side would confirm the presence of a pneumothorax.

Your Patient Is Suspected of Having a Pneumothorax and the Physician