Definition of stability during primary spontaneous pneumothorax evaluation

Respiratory rate <24 breaths per minute

Heart rate <120 and >60 beats per minute

Normal blood pressure (not defined)

Room air oxygen saturation >90%

Ability to speak in whole sentences

Ability to walk freely

All of these features need to be present to ensure stability.

Information from:

Management of spontaneous pneumothorax: an American College of Chest Physicians Delphi consensus statement. Baumann MH, Strange C, Heffner JE, et al. Chest 2001; 119:590.
Conservative versus interventional treatment for spontaneous pneumothorax. Brown SGA, Ball EL, Perrin K, et al. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:405.

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