PNEUMOTHORAX

DEFINITION

• Collapsed lung
• Occurs when air leaks into the space between your lungs
• This air pushes on the outside of your lung & makes it collapse
• In most situations, only portions of the lung collapse

CAUSES:

• Blunt or penetrating chest injury
• Certain medical procedures
• Damage from underlying lung disease

TYPES OF PNEUMOTHORAX:

• Spontaneous - primary
• Complicated -secondary

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid heart rate
• Cyanosis
• Fatigue

DIAGNOSIS:

• Exam of the chest with a stethoscope
• Could reveal decreased or absence of breath sound
• Chest X-Ray done to confirm

TREATMENT:

• A small pneumothorax without underlying disease may resolve itself
• A larger, one associated with disease often require aspiration of free air
• And or placement of a chest tube to evacuate the air

RISKS:

• Affects about 9000 persons a year
• Does not have to have a history of lung disease
• Spontaneous is most common in men between the ages of 20 & 40
• Also in tall ,thin men
• Smoking has been proven to increase risks

REFERENCES:

• MedicineNet.com
• Mayoclinic.com
• Google.com