Pneumothorax post pacemaker insertion

Pneumothorax. The two main reasons that a chest radiograph is performed routinely after a permanent pacemaker is inserted are to check the position of the pacing lead(s), and to check for a pneumothorax. In some cases, the pneumothorax can be difficult to spot as it may be partially obscured by the pacemaker itself. In this case, the diagnosis is straightforward – there is increased lucency in the left hemithorax, particularly superiorly, there are absent lung markings in the periphery of the left hemithorax, and a pleural line is visible (arrows).