Definition and Symptoms of Pneumothorax
- Abnormal collection of air in pleural space
- Occurs between lung and chest wall
- Sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Tension pneumothorax causes one-way valve and increased air in space
Complications and Risk Factors of Pneumothorax
- Tension pneumothorax leads to oxygen shortage
- Low blood pressure
- Obstructive shock can occur
- Obstructive shock can be fatal if not reversed
- Rare cases of pneumothorax affecting both lungs
- Smoking increases risk of pneumothorax
- History of lung disease increases risk
- Male gender is a risk factor
- Age between 20 and 40 increases risk
- Family history of pneumothorax increases risk
Terminology and Types of Pneumothorax
- Pneumothorax often called collapsed lung
- Collapsed lung can also refer to atelectasis
- Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs without apparent cause
- Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in absence of significant lung disease
- Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax has underlying lung disease as cause
Diagnosis of Pneumothorax
- Chest X-ray used to diagnose pneumothorax
- CT scan may be necessary for accurate diagnosis
Treatment of Pneumothorax
- Small pneumothorax may resolve on its own
- Large pneumothorax may require chest tube insertion
- Surgery may be needed for recurrent or persistent pneumothorax
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, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. 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. 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. Very rarely, both lungs may be affected by a pneumothorax. It is often called a "collapsed lung", although that term may also refer to atelectasis.
Pneumothorax | |
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Other names | Collapsed lung |
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Illustration depicting a collapsed lung or pneumothorax | |
Specialty | Pulmonology, thoracic surgery |
Symptoms | Chest pain, shortness of breath, tiredness |
Usual onset | Sudden |
Causes | Unknown, trauma |
Risk factors | COPD, tuberculosis, smog, smoking |
Diagnostic method | Chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan |
Differential diagnosis | Lung bullae, hemothorax |
Prevention | Smoking cessation |
Treatment | conservative, needle aspiration, chest tube, pleurodesis |
Frequency | 20 per 100,000 per year |
A primary spontaneous pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease. A secondary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease. Smoking increases the risk of primary spontaneous pneumothorax, while the main underlying causes for secondary pneumothorax are COPD, asthma, and tuberculosis. A traumatic pneumothorax can develop from physical trauma to the chest (including a blast injury) or from a complication of a healthcare intervention.
Diagnosis of a pneumothorax by physical examination alone can be difficult (particularly in smaller pneumothoraces). A chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or ultrasound is usually used to confirm its presence. Other conditions that can result in similar symptoms include a hemothorax (buildup of blood in the pleural space), pulmonary embolism, and heart attack. A large bulla may look similar on a chest X-ray.
A small spontaneous pneumothorax will typically resolve without treatment and requires only monitoring. This approach may be most appropriate in people who have no underlying lung disease. 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. Occasionally, surgery may be required if tube drainage is unsuccessful, or as a preventive measure, if there have been repeated episodes. 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). About 17–23 cases of pneumothorax occur per 100,000 people per year. They are more common in men than women.
pneumo- + thorax
pneumothorax (usually uncountable, plural pneumothoraxes or pneumothoraces)