![]() Occasionally, surgery may be required if tube drainage is unsuccessful, or as a preventive measure, if there have been repeated episodes. 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. This approach may be most appropriate in people who have no underlying lung disease. Ī small spontaneous pneumothorax will typically resolve without treatment and requires only monitoring. A large bulla may look similar on a chest X-ray. ![]() Other conditions that can result in similar symptoms include a hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural space), pulmonary embolism, and heart attack. A chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound is usually used to confirm its presence. ĭiagnosis of a pneumothorax by physical examination alone can be difficult (particularly in smaller pneumothoraces). A traumatic pneumothorax can develop from physical trauma to the chest (including a blast injury) or from a complication of a healthcare intervention. Smoking increases the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, while the main underlying causes for secondary pneumothorax are COPD, asthma, and tuberculosis. A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease. Ī primary spontaneous pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease. It is often called a " collapsed lung", although that term may also refer to atelectasis. Very rarely, both lungs may be affected by a pneumothorax. This leads to a type of shock called obstructive shock, which can be fatal unless reversed. This can cause a steadily worsening oxygen shortage and low blood pressure. 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. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. ![]() Illustration depicting a collapsed lung or pneumothoraxĬhest pain, shortness of breath, tiredness Ĭonservative, needle aspiration, chest tube, pleurodesis Ī pneumothorax is an abnormal collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. ![]()
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