Pneumothorax

Caroline Violette

What is Pneumothorax?

A collapsed lung, or pneumothorax, is the

collection of air in the space around the lungs; this buildup

of air puts pressure on the lung, so it cannot expand as

much as it normally does when you take a breath.

What parts of the respiratory systems are affected?

Areas affected are the lungs & chest cavity.

What causes pneumothorax?

It may be caused by a gunshot or knife wound to the chest, rib fracture, or

certain medical procedures. In some cases, a collapsed

lung occurs without any cause. This is called a

spontaneous pneumothorax.

Treatments For a smaller case of

pneumothorax, it may go away on its own.

You may only need oxygen and rest.

The health care provider may use a needle to pull the extra air

out from around the lung so it can expand more fully. You may

be allowed to go home if you live near the hospital.

Treatments If you have a large

pneumothorax, a chest tube will be placed between

the ribs into the space around the lungs to help

drain the air and allows the lung to re-expand.

The chest tube can be left in place for several days.

Lung surgery may be needed to treat your

pneumothorax or to prevent future episodes

Expected outcomesIf you have pneumothorax, you are more likely to have another

one in the future if you:

Are tall and thin Continue to smoke

Have had two collapsed lungs in the past

How well a person does after having a collapsed lung

depends on what caused it.