pneumothorax

 Also known as: collapsed lungs

Content medically reviewed by

Dr. Govind Desai

MD, Respiratory Medicine

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What is Pneumothorax?

Treatment options

How is this diagnosed?

Causes

Usually caused by injury to the chest and prolonged lung conditions, which may include:

• Chest injury: caused due to any blunt or penetrating injury to the chest. Car accidents, physical assaults, or medical procedures can lead to lung collapse.
• Lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema,cystic lung diseases, pneumonia like staphylococcal pneumonia can cause collapse.
• Mechanical ventilation: the ventilator can create an imbalance of air pressure within the chest and the lung may collapse completely.
• Ruptured air blisters: small air blisters can develop on the top of your lung. These blebs sometimes burst — allowing air to leak into the space that surrounds the lungs.

Risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Lung diseases
• Hospitalization and on ventilator
• Family history - certain types of cystic lung diseases leading to pneumothorax run in families
• If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider.
• The symptoms include:

1. A steady ache in the chest
2. Shortness of breath, or dyspnea
3. Tightness in the chest
4. Turning blue, or cyanosis
5. Severe tachycardia, or a fast heart rate

There are no results for Causes Usually caused by injury to the chest and prolonged lung conditions, which may include: 

Chest injury: caused due to any blunt or penetrating injury to the chest. 

Car accidents, physical assaults, or medical procedures can lead to lung collapse. 

Lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema,cystic lung diseases,pneumonia like staphylococcal pneumonia can cause collapse.

 Mechanical ventilation: the ventilator can create an imbalance of air pressure within the chest and the lung may collapse completely. Ruptured air blisters: small air blisters can develop on the top of your lung. These blebs sometimes burst — allowing air to leak into the space that surrounds the lungs. 

Risk factors include: Smoking Lung diseases Hospitalization and on ventilator Family history - certain types of cystic lung diseases leading to pneumothorax run in families Symptoms If you are experiencing new, severe, or persistent symptoms, contact a health care provider. The symptoms include: A steady ache in the chest Shortness of breath