Description

A pneumothorax (noo-moe-THOR-aks) is a collapsed lung. A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall. This air pushes on the outside of your lung and makes it collapse. A pneumothorax can be a complete lung collapse or a collapse of only a portion of the lung.

A pneumothorax can be caused by a blunt or penetrating chest injury, certain medical procedures, or damage from underlying lung disease. Or it may occur for no apparent reason. Symptoms usually include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. In some cases, a collapsed lung can be fatal event.

The treatment for a pneumothorax usually involves the insertion of a needle or chest tube between the ribs to remove the excess air. However, a small pneumothorax may heal on its own.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of a pneumothorax include sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. The severity of symptoms may depend on the amount of lung collapse.

When to see a doctor

The symptoms of a pneumothorax can be caused by a variety of health problems, and some can be fatal, so seek medical attention. If your chest pain is severe or breathing becomes increasingly difficult, get immediate emergency care.

Causes

A pneumothorax can be caused by:

  • Chest injury. Any blunt or penetrating injury to your chest can cause a collapsed lung. Some injuries may occur during the physical assaults or motor vehicle accidents, while others may inadvertently occur during medical procedures that involve the insertion of a needle into the chest.
  • The lung disease. Damaged lung tissue is more likely to collapse. Lung damage can be caused by many types of underlying diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or pneumonia. Cystic lung diseases, such as lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, the cause of the round, thin-walled air sacs in the lung tissue that can break, resulting in pneumothorax.
  • The ruptured air blisters. Small air blisters (vesicles) can develop on the upper part of the lungs. These blisters of air times in a row — which allows air to leak into the space that surrounds the lungs.
  • Mechanical ventilation. A severe type of pneumothorax can occur in people who need mechanical assistance to breathe. The fan can create an imbalance of air pressure in the chest. The lung may collapse completely.

Risk factors

In general, men are much more likely to have a pneumothorax women. The type of pneumothorax caused by ruptured air blisters is more likely to occur in people between 20 and 40 years of age, especially if a person is very high and the low weight.

Underlying lung disease, or mechanical ventilation may be either a cause or a risk factor for pneumothorax. Other risk factors include:

  • The habit of smoking. The risk increases with the length of time and number of cigarettes smoked, even without emphysema.
  • Genetics. Certain types of pneumothorax appear in families.
  • Previous pneumothorax. Any person who has had a pneumothorax is at a greater risk of having another.

Complications

Possible complications vary, depending on the size and severity of the pneumothorax as well as the cause and the treatment. Sometimes, the air may continue to leak if the opening in the lung do not close or pneumothorax may recur.

Diagnosis

A pneumothorax is usually diagnosed using a chest x-ray. In some cases, a computed tomography (CT) may be necessary to provide more detail of the images. Ultrasound imaging, also can be used to identify a pneumothorax.

Treatment

The goal in treating a pneumothorax is to relieve the pressure on the lung, allowing it to re-expand. Depending on the cause of the pneumothorax, a second goal may be to prevent recurrences. The methods for the achievement of these objectives will depend on the severity of the collapse of the lung, and sometimes in your overall health.

Treatment options may include observation, needle aspiration, chest tube insertion, non-surgical repair or surgery. You may receive supplemental oxygen therapy air speed of resorption and lung expansion.

Observation

If only a small portion of his collapsed lung, your doctor may simply monitor your condition with a series of chest X-rays until the excess air is completely absorbed and the lung has re-expanded. This can take several weeks.

Needle aspiration or chest tube insertion

If a larger area of your lung has collapsed, it is likely that a needle or chest tube is used to remove the excess air.

  • The needle aspiration. A hollow needle with a small, flexible tube (catheter) that is inserted between the ribs in the air-filled space that is pressing on the lung collapsed. Then, the doctor removes the needle, it is attached to a syringe to the tube and remove the excess air. The catheter can be left for a couple of hours to ensure that the lung is re-expanded and the pneumothorax does not repeat.
  • Insertion of chest tube. A flexible chest tube is inserted into the air-filled space and can be connected to a one-way valve device that continuously removes air from the thoracic cavity to the lung is re-expanded and cured.

Non-surgical repair

If a chest tube is not re-expand the lung, non-surgical options to close the air leak may include:

  • The use of a substance to irritate the tissue around the lung so that they are kept together and seal the leaks. This can be done through the tube in the chest, but it can be done during the surgery.
  • The extraction of blood from your arm and place it in the tube in the chest. The blood creates a fibrinous spot in the lung (autologous blood patch), the sealing of the air leak.
  • Passes a thin tube (bronchoscope) down the throat and into the lungs to look at your lungs and air ducts and the placement of a one-way valve. The valve allows the lung to re-expand and the air leak to heal.

Surgery

Sometimes surgery may be necessary to close the air leak. In most cases, the surgery can be performed through small incisions, using a small fiber-optic camera and narrow, long-handled surgical tools. The surgeon will look for the leak area or rupture of the air from the vial and close it.

In rare cases, the surgeon will make a larger incision between the ribs to have a better access to multiple or large air leaks.

Course of care

You may have to avoid certain activities that put more pressure in your lungs for a time after his pneumothorax healthy. Examples include flight, a dive, or play a wind instrument. Talk with your doctor about the type and the length of its activity restrictions. Keep follow-up appointments with your doctor to monitor your healing process.

Symptoms and treatment of Pneumothorax