Which adjunct therapy may be used after chest tube placement for pneumothorax?

• A. Hyperinflation therapy
• B. Bronchodilators
• C. Mucolytics
• D. Corticosteroids

Answer: (A)

Promoting lung re-expansion after chest tube placement is the goal in this scenario. Hyperinflation therapy, such as incentive spirometry or other strategies that encourage a larger inspired volume, helps recruit and expand the collapsed portions of the lung. This increases the surface area for gas exchange, improves oxygenation, and reduces atelectasis as the lung re-expands around the chest tube. Bronchodilators, mucolytics, and corticosteroids have roles in other pulmonary conditions, but they don’t actively drive lung re-expansion after a pneumothorax, so they’re not the adjunct therapy of choice here. Once the chest tube is in place and the air leak is controlled, maximizing inspiratory effort with hyperinflation therapy is the most appropriate adjunct.