Case presentation A 28-year-old man presents with a sudden onset of left chest pain and shortness of breath. The patient denies any trauma to his chest and any cough or other respiratory symptoms before the onset of pain. PMH : None Examination : His temperature is normal, his pulse rate is 110 beats/min, his blood pressure is 124/80 mm Hg, and his respiratory rate is 28 breaths/min. The pulmonary examination revealed diminished breath sounds on the left and normal breath sounds on the right. A cardiac examination demonstrated no murmurs or gallops.
Results from the abdominal and extremity examinations were unremarkable. The laboratory examination revealed a normal complete blood count and serum electrolyte levels. The chest radiograph showed a 50% left pneumothorax without effusion or pulmonary lesions. What is the most likely diagnosis for this patient, and what should be the next…
