- Oxygen is believed to reduce partial pressure of nitrogen in the alveolus compared with pleural cavity. This diffusion gradient for nitrogen accelerates resolution.
- Historically it is stated that pneumothorax resolves at rate Of 1.25% per day in room air. Recent study found that resolution rate is 2.2% per day.
- Oxygen therapy induces release of reactive oxygen species, which inhibit the generation of vasodilators such as prostagladin and nitric oxide. Vasoconstriction caused by hyperoxia decreases perfusion and regional oxygen delivery.
- Park et al(J Thorac Dis. 2017 ) demonstrated the effect of oxygen therapy in the resolution of PSP. The resolution rate was (4.27%±1.97%)/day in the O2 group vs. (2.06%±0.97%)/day in the room air group. Study also advises to take adverse outcomes of hyperoxia into their consideration, before using oxygen therapy in small pneumothorax.
Reference
- Park CB, Moon MH, Jeon HW, Cho DG, Song SW, Won YD, Kim YH, Kim YD, Jeong SC, Kim KS, Choi SY. Does oxygen therapy increase the resolution rate of primary spontaneous pneumothorax? J Thorac Dis. 2017 Dec;9(12):5239-5243. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2017.10.149. PMID: 29312731; PMCID: PMC5757069.
