A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall.[3] Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath.[2] In a minority of cases, a one-way valve is formed by an area of damaged tissue, and the amount of air in the space between chest wall and lungs increases; this is called a tension pneumothorax.[3] This can cause a steadily worsening oxygen shortage and low blood pressure. This leads to a type of shock called obstructive shock, which can be fatal unless reversed.[3] Very rarely, both lungs may be affected by a pneumothorax.[6] It is often called a "collapsed lung", although that term may also refer to atelectasis.[1]
A primary spontaneous pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease.[3] A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease.[3][7] Smoking increases the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, while the main underlying causes for secondary pneumothorax are COPD, asthma, and tuberculosis.[3][4] A traumatic pneumothorax can develop from physical trauma to the chest (including a blast injury) or from a complication of a healthcare intervention.[8][9]
Diagnosis of a pneumothorax by physical examination alone can be difficult (particularly in smaller pneumothoraces).[10] A chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound is usually used to confirm its presence.[5] Other conditions that can result in similar symptoms include a hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural space), pulmonary embolism, and heart attack.[2][11] A large bulla may look similar on a chest X-ray.[3]
A small spontaneous pneumothorax will typically resolve without treatment and requires only monitoring.[3] This approach may be most appropriate in people who have no underlying lung disease.[3] In a larger pneumothorax, or if there is shortness of breath, the air may be removed with a syringe or a chest tube connected to a one-way valve system.[3] Occasionally, surgery may be required if tube drainage is unsuccessful, or as a preventive measure, if there have been repeated episodes.[3] The surgical treatments usually involve pleurodesis (in which the layers of pleura are induced to stick together) or pleurectomy (the surgical removal of pleural membranes).[3] About 17–23 cases of pneumothorax occur per 100,000 people per year.[3][5] They are more common in men than women.[3]
^ abOrenstein DM (2004). Cystic Fibrosis: A Guide for Patient and Family. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 62. ISBN 9780781741521. Archived from the original on 31 October 2016.
^ abcd"What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Pleurisy and Other Pleural Disorders". www.nhlbi.nih.gov. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstBintcliffe O, Maskell N (May 2014). "Spontaneous pneumothorax". BMJ. 348: g2928. doi:10.1136/bmj.g2928. PMID 24812003. S2CID 32575512.
^ ab"What Causes Pleurisy and Other Pleural Disorders?". NHLBI. 21 September 2011. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
^ abcdChen L, Zhang Z (August 2015). "Bedside ultrasonography for diagnosis of pneumothorax". Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery. 5 (4): 618–623. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2223-4292.2015.05.04. PMC 4559988. PMID 26435925.
^Morjaria JB, Lakshminarayana UB, Liu-Shiu-Cheong P, Kastelik JA (November 2014). "Pneumothorax: a tale of pain or spontaneity". Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease. 5 (6): 269–273. doi:10.1177/2040622314551549. PMC 4205574. PMID 25364493.
^Weinberger S, Cockrill B, Mandel J (2019). Principles of Pulmonary Medicine (7th ed.). Elsevier. pp. 215–216. ISBN 9780323523714.
^Slade M (December 2014). "Management of pneumothorax and prolonged air leak". Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 35 (6): 706–714. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1395502. PMID 25463161. S2CID 35518356.
^Yarmus L, Feller-Kopman D (April 2012). "Pneumothorax in the critically ill patient". Chest. 141 (4): 1098–1105. doi:10.1378/chest.11-1691. PMID 22474153. S2CID 207386345.
^Peters JR, Egan D, Mick NW (2006). Nadel ES (ed.). Blueprints Emergency Medicine. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 44. ISBN 9781405104616. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016.
A pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp...
Catamenial pneumothorax is a spontaneous pneumothorax that recurs during menstruation, within 72 hours before or after the onset of a cycle. It usually...
include pericarditis, heart attack, cholecystitis, pulmonary embolism, and pneumothorax. Diagnostic testing may include a chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG)...
changes in gas velocity. The resultant alveolar rupture can lead to pneumothorax, pulmonary interstitial emphysema (PIE) and pneumomediastinum. Barotrauma...
Hydropneumothorax is defined as the presence of both air and fluid within the pleural space. An upright chest x-ray will show air fluid levels. The horizontal...
within the chest cavity. It is most commonly associated with traumatic pneumothorax, but can be caused by a number of both acute and chronic health issues...
possible for something outside of the bronchus to cause the blockage. Pneumothorax is the condition where air or gas can build up in the pleural space....
tube can be used to remove clinically undesired substances such as air (pneumothorax), excess fluid (pleural effusion or hydrothorax), blood (hemothorax)...
Pneumothorax ex vacuo is a rare type of pneumothorax which forms adjacent to an atelectatic lobe. It is seen preferentially with atelectasis of the right...
itself. Causes include pulmonary embolism, cardiac tamponade, and tension pneumothorax. These are all life-threatening. Symptoms may include shortness of breath...
A pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, is a collection of air outside the lung in the pleural cavity. Depending on etiology, a pneumothorax is...
ultrasound guidance, which has shown to reduce complications. Tension pneumothorax is a medical emergency that requires needle decompression before a chest...
term is also informally used for a fully collapsed lung caused by a pneumothorax. It is a very common finding in chest X-rays and other radiological studies...
pathologies that can cause a mediastinal shift and their appearance. Tension pneumothorax is an emergent condition in which air gets trapped in the space between...
pulmonary causes include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumothorax, pulmonary edema and pneumonia. On a pathophysiological basis the causes...
(eFAST) which includes some additional ultrasound views to assess for pneumothorax. The four classic areas that are examined for free fluid are the perihepatic...
spared. Pleurodesis is performed to prevent recurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax or pleural effusion, and can be done chemically or mechanically. It is...
method employed prior to the insertion of a chest drain following a pneumothorax. Following incision above the rib (to avoid the neurovascular bundle)...
"sucking," chest wounds (open pneumothorax) to prevent a tension pneumothorax (a serious complication of a simple pneumothorax). They are also used in conjunction...
vein, the risk of pneumothorax is minimized by the use of ultrasound guidance. For experienced clinicians, the incidence of pneumothorax is about 1.5–3.1%...
than that in the tissues outside of them. Its most common causes are pneumothorax or a chest tube that has become occluded by a blood clot or fibrinous...
chest wall pain include acute coronary syndrome, aortic dissection, pneumothorax, or pulmonary embolism. Other cardiopulmonary causes of chest pain similar...
intrapleural pressure becomes greater than the atmospheric pressure, pneumothorax may ensue. Intrapleural pressure is different from intrathoracic pressure...
pleural cavity, preventing the development of pneumothorax or hemothorax. In addition to pneumothorax, complications from thoracotomy include air leaks...
effect could be a risk factor for developing emphysema, and spontaneous pneumothorax. There are four types of emphysema, three of which are related to the...
the condition of having both air (pneumothorax) and blood (hemothorax) in the chest cavity. A hemothorax, pneumothorax, or the combination of both can occur...
heart to the body. This is considered preload dependent arrest. Tension pneumothorax is caused when air is able to enter the space between the lung and the...
hypothermia, and hypoglycemia. The Ts are toxins, (cardiac) tamponade, tension pneumothorax, thrombosis (myocardial infarction), thromboembolism, and trauma. The...
neurogenic bladder and paralysis, recurrent cardiorespiratory distress and pneumothorax, hypoxic brain injury leading to early dementia, amputations, chronic...
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