What is pneumothorax?

The condition that occurs when the air in the lung accumulates in the chest cage outside the lung for various reasons, pressing on the lung and shrinking as the lung loses air, is called pneumothorax. Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung.

What are the causes of pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax resulting from chest injury Any blunt or penetrating injury to your chest can cause the lung to collapse. Some injuries can occur during physical attacks or car accidents, while others can occur during medical procedures that involve accidentally sticking a needle into the chest. Pneumothorax due to lung disease Damaged lung tissue is more likely to collapse.

Lung damage can be caused by many underlying diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, or pneumonia. Cystic lung diseases, such as lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, cause round, thin-walled air sacs in the lung tissue that can rupture, resulting in pneumothorax. Pneumothorax with ruptured air bubbles Small air bubbles may develop at the top of the lungs. These air bubbles sometimes burst, allowing air to leak into the space surrounding the lungs. Pneumothorax caused by mechanical ventilation A serious type of pneumothorax can occur in people who need mechanical assistance to breathe. The ventilator can create an imbalance in air pressure within the chest. The lung may collapse completely. What are the symptoms of pneumothorax? Bruising: with prolonged, severe dehydration, bruising may occur throughout the body. Weakness: Lack of oxygen in the blood causes fatigue. Rapid breathing: breathing increases to provide the oxygen the body needs. Shortness of breath: air hunger is felt due to collapse in the lungs. Cough: Cough may develop with air hunger and lung contraction. Palpitations: The pulse accelerates due to the need for oxygen and the effects of the shrinking lungs on the heart. Sudden chest pain: A sudden stabbing pain develops where the pneumothorax develops. This pain should be differentiated from pressing, crushing cardiac pain. 

How is pneumothorax treated?

In cases of simple pneumothorax, the patient is monitored under the supervision of a doctor while the body waits for the disease to be repaired. Depending on the amount of accumulated air, the air can be evacuated with a syringe so that the collapsed lung can be filled with air again. In cases of more severe and obvious pneumothorax, first the patient's findings are stabilized, a chest tube is inserted between the ribs and drainage is performed. The aim is to evacuate the air leaking into the chest cage and to provide suitable conditions for the collapsed lung to be filled with air again. In major lung injuries, surgical methods are used to directly repair the damage.