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.
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