International Pain and Spine Intervention Society Emergency Protocols: Pneumothorax.

This protocol describes the recognition and treatment of pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax as potential complications of procedures performed near the pleura. It reviews clinical presentations ranging from mild dyspnea and chest pain to life-threatening respiratory distress and hemodynamic instability. The protocol emphasizes rapid diagnosis, supplemental oxygen administration, emergency decompression for unstable patients, and urgent transfer for definitive management.