Pneumothorax, also referred to as lung collapse, is the result of unwanted air trapped around the lungs.

1. Pneumothorax

2. Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax, also referred to as lung collapse, is the
result of unwanted air trapped around the lungs. The
lung collapses as it cannot expand in the normal fashion,
due to presence of unwanted air/gas. This condition can
be categorized into three types, namely, spontaneous,
tension, and trauma pneumothorax.

3. Causes of Pneumothorax
Numerous reasons can cause collection of air/gas around the
lungs. The air trapped can be air from outside the body or from
the lung itself.
 Spontaneous: This has sudden symptoms and is not a result
of sustained injury to lungs. It has two types - primary and
secondary. The former is observed in people who do not have
any medical history of any lung disease. Smoking is
considered as its chief cause. Proximity to loud sound, scuba
diving, sudden change in atmospheric pressure, etc., can be
some other contributing factors. The latter is observed in
people who already suffer from a lung disorder, such as COPD,
asthma, etc. COPD has been observed to be the most common
reason.
 Trauma: Any injury to the lungs or the chest wall causes this
condition. It can be a result of gunshot, accident, or any direct
injury to the lung. Medical surgeries, like open lung biopsy or

4. Causes of Pneumothorax
 Tension: This leads to complete lung collapse, i.e., both
the lungs can collapse. The air trapped outside the lung
is unable to escape, and hence, the amount of the air
collected goes on increasing with every breath. This is a
rare condition that builds extreme pressure in the chest
and may cause shock, low blood pressure, and if it gets
more severe and is not treated soon, it may cause death.
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5. Symptoms
The symptoms depend on the amount of air trapped
outside the lung. The following list gives the common
symptoms:
Severe chest pain that gives a feeling of getting stabbed.
 Patient may feel breathless or face shortness of breath.
 Skin colour becomes bluish, due to lack of oxygen.
 Low blood pressure
 Stress and anxiety
 Cough
 Fatigue

6. Diagnosis of Pneumothorax
A stethoscope is used for physical examination of the
patient. The breathing pattern is examined and usually
the stethoscope alone proves useful to confirm the
diagnosis. Chest X-rays are used sometimes to confirm
the diagnosis, to reveal the amount of air
trapped. Arterial blood gas test may also be performed,
as it helps in assessing the amount of oxygen and
carbon dioxide in the blood.

7. Treatments
Generally, primary spontaneous pneumothorax cures on its
own, if the amount of air trapped is very less. In such cases, X-
rays can prove to be helpful to cross check if the air has
escaped. Treatments are aimed at removing the unwanted air.
When the air trapped is large in amount and it causes
serious breathing problems, then the removal of air becomes
mandatory. Chest tube treatments are widely used to remove
the excess air/gas. The patient needs to be hospitalized, when
the chest tube is inserted. The chest tube helps the air to flow
out. If a person is frequently suffering from this problem,
surgery can help to prevent further complications. Tension
pneumothorax is fatal and may cause death within few minutes
if not treated on time. Pneumothorax due to injury to the lung
should be treated immediately. In most cases, the trapped air
can be removed easily but, there are also 50% chances of the
air getting trapped in the future.

8. Treatments
People having medical history of lung diseases should
take proper care and consult a physician for prevention.
Spontaneous pneumothorax can be prevented by
avoiding smoking. Proper treatment and prevention can
help reduce severe symptoms of the disease.
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