Do you recommend providing supplemental oxygen for patients with a pneumothorax in the absence of hypoxemia?  

I was certainly always taught that one should give supplemental oxygen to patients to decrease the size of the pneumothorax. This is based on the "nitrogen wash-out" theory, essentially, you're trying to get the partial pressure of nitrogen down in the alveoli so that it will be resorbed from the pn...

My answer is no, as there's a lack of evidence. A study back in 1971 showed that at least a 4-fold increased rate of resorption of pneumothorax may occur with 100% oxygen administration during the observation period. Data from animal models report an increased rate of resorption of air from the pl...