Definition:
Pneumothorax is a medical term that describes the case of having free air in the chest cavity ( thoracic cavity), which causes the lung to collapse.
Types and causes of Pneumothorax:
The pneumothorax may be classified into two types depending on it's cause :
Spontaneous or non-traumatic pneumothorax:
Non-traumatic pneumothorax may be primary spontaneous pneumothorax which occurs on patients who have no lung diseases in there medical history, or secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, which occurs in people with known lung disorders like , asthma, bronchitis, emphysema...
this type of pneumothorax may happen because of a cyst or a small sac rapture on the lung surface.Traumatic Pneumothorax:
This type of pneumothorax occurs due to a trauma or an injury that caused a damage to the lung walls, which will allow the air to leak into thoracic cavity.
Changes in the air pressure in the surrounding climate may lead to tension pneumothorax, the changes in the air pressure may develop air blusters in the lungs and then a rupture that will lead to lung collapse.
Symptoms and signs of Pneumothorax:
- Sudden chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Increased heart rate
- cough
- Fatigue
Treatment:
the treatment of pneumothorax depends on the patient's conditioon, and the pneumothorax type.
Bed Rest: For a small pneumothorax that involves a small area of the lung, the doctor may ask the patient to rest for days or weeks.
Frequent X-Rays should be taken in order to check if the chest has expanded again.Draining excess air:
In order to drain the excessive air that accumulated
in the thoracic cavity we should do the same procedure in the thoracentesis.
The doctor should insert a tube in the midaxillary line in the eighth, ninth or tenth intercostal space, after that the air will be drained using a syringe or a mechanical suction device.
