Collapsed Lung Pneumothorax

Collapsed Lung Pneumothorax

A collapsed lung refers to a condition in which the space between the wall of the chest cavity and the lung itself fills with air. This causes all or a portion of the lung to collapse. The air usually enters this space, called the pleural space, through an injury to the chest wall or a hole in the lung. There are 2 types of pneumothorax, tension and simple.

Tension Pneumothorax refers to a condition in which air builds up under pressure and causes severe dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. By preventing return of blood to the heart from the veins, severe low blood pressure occurs, because

the heart has less blood available to pump into the main arteries. If this condition is not appropriately treated, the person may die.

Simple Pneumothorax refers to insufficient buildup of pressure that occurs in the pleural space to cause cardiovascular dysfunction. The collapsed lung may lead to decreased amounts of oxygen in the blood, causing impaired delivery of oxygen to the tissues of the body.

Collapsed Lung Causes

The primary cause of a pneumothorax is local trauma to the chest cavity. A fractured rib, for example, could puncure the lung. Also penetrating trauma from a bullet, knife, or other sharp object can directly puncture the lung. Sometimes, very tall, thing people are prone to a spontaneous pneumothorax. In this condition, the lung collapses after minimal or no trauma. Another risk factor is cigarette smoking.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax refers to a condition in which the lung collapses with no apparent injury or trauma. Blebs, which are abnormal, small, air-filled sacs in the lung, typically rupture and leak air into the pleural space leading to the spontaneous pneumothorax. Shortness of breath and sharp pleuritic chest pain develop in apparently healthy people. Increased length of the chest, which can be seen in tall, thin people, and cigarette smoking are the 2 key factors.

Traumatic Pneumothorax is direct trauma to the chest wall from either blunt or penetrating trauma causes this condition. Trauma can also result from diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedures, such as needle aspiration of fluid from the pleural space, or insertion of a large IV catheter into a vein near the neck.

Medical Treatment

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