Collapsed lungs
| Pneumothorax | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Collapsed lung |
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| A large right-sided spontaneous pneumothorax (left in the image). An arrow indicates the edge of the collapsed lung | |
| Specialty | Pulmonology, thoracic surgery |
| Symptoms | Chest pain, shortness of breath, tiredness |
| Usual onset | Sudden |
| Causes | Unknown, trauma |
| Risk factors | COPD, tuberculosis, smoking |
| Diagnostic method | Chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan |
| Similar conditions | lung bullae,hemothorax |
| Prevention | Stopping smoking |
| Treatment | conservative, needle aspiration, chest tube, pleurodesis |
| Frequency | 20 per 100,000 per year |
| Classification |
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| External resources |
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 the amount of air in the chest increases when a one-way valve is formed by an area of damaged tissue, leading to a tension pneumothorax. This condition can cause a steadily worsening oxygen shortage and low blood pressure. Unless reversed by effective treatment, it can result in death. 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.
A primary pneumothorax is one that occurs without an apparent cause and in the absence of significant lung disease, while a secondary pneumothorax occurs in the presence of existing lung disease. Smoking increases the risk as do lung diseases including COPD, asthma, and tuberculosis. A pneumothorax can also be caused by physical trauma to the chest (including a blast injury), or as a complication of a healthcare intervention; in which case it is called a traumatic pneumothorax.
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 bullae may look similar on a chest X-ray.
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Wikipedia