True or false: the size of a pneumothorax increases in expiratory views.
False. The amount of air in the pleural space stays the same (this is obvious if you stop and think about it).
Why is a pneumothorax more obvious on expiratory views?
The lung on the affected size is further collapsed during expiration, resulting in a denser lung (air is expelled from the lung, while the pneumothorax remains the same). Additionally the % of the pleural space occupied by the pneumothorax increase, so it often becomes more easy to appreciate.
Pigtail catheter remains in situ, with a moderate sized right-sided pneumothorax and pigtail catheter in situ.