Table 1. Etiology of pneumothorax in the ICU (5,12).

(I) Underlying lung disease:

ARDS

Pneumonia

COPD/emphysema

(II) Trauma

(III) Invasive interventions

Positive pressure ventilation

Central venous line insertion

Bronchoscopy

Surgical procedures involving thorax, head and neck

Abdominal procedures

(I) Underlying parenchymal lung disease predispose patients to develop pneumothorax. (II) Post trauma patients are at risk for developing pneumothorax. (III) Iatrogenic pneumothorax can be caused due to various invasive diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.