2/10/2011 PubMed Health - Collapsed lung

Collapsed lung
Air around the lung; Air outside the lung; Pneumothorax; National Center for Biotechnology
Spontaneous pneumothorax Information
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Last reviewed: August 19, 2009. National Institutes of Health

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.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

A collapsed lung may result from chest trauma, such as gunshot or knife wounds, rib
fracture, or after certain medical procedures.
In some cases, a collapsed lung occurs without any cause. This is called a spontaneous
pneumothorax. A small area in the lung that is filled with air, called a bleb, ruptures, and
the air leaks into the space around the lung.
Certain activities may lead to a collapsed lung. These include scuba diving, smoking
marijuana or cigarettes, high altitude hiking, and flying.
Tall, thin people are more likely to a collapsed lung.
Lung diseases such as COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, and whooping
cough also increase your risk for a collapsed lung.

Symptoms
Almost everyone who has a collapsed lung has the following symptoms:
Sharp chest pain, made worse by a deep breath or a cough
Shortness of breath
A larger pneumothorax will cause more severe symptoms, including:
Chest tightness
Easy fatigue
Rapid heart rate
Bluish color of the skin caused by lack of oxygen
Note: Symptoms may begin during rest or sleep.
Other symptoms that can occur with a collapsed lung include:
Nasal flaring
Low blood pressure (hypotension)

Signs and tests

There are decreased or no breath sounds on the affected side when heard through a
stethoscope.
Tests include:
Chest x-ray to tell whether there is air outside the lung
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Arterial blood gases

Treatment
A small pneumothorax 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.
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. You must stay in the hospital while
the chest tube is in place.
Some patients with a collapsed lung need extra oxygen, which helps the air around the
lung be reabsorbed more quickly.
Lung surgery may be needed to treat your pneumothorax or to prevent future episodes.
The area where the leak occurred may be repaired. Sometimes, a special chemical is
placed into the area of the collapsed lung. This chemical causes a scar to form.

Expectations (prognosis)
If you have a collapsed lung, 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.

Complications
Another collapsed lung in the future
Shock

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of a collapsed lung, especially if you
have had one before.

Prevention
There is no known way to prevent a collapsed lung, but you can decrease your risk by not
smoking.

References
Light RW, Lee GY. Pneumothorax, Chylothorax, Hemothorax, and Fibrothorax. In:
Mason RJ, Murray JF, Broaddus VC, Nadel JA, eds. Textbook of Respiratory
Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005: chap 69.

Review Date: 8/19/2009.

Reviewed by: David A. Kaufman, MD, Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep
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Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital-Yale New Haven Health System, and Assistant Clinical
Professor, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Lungs
The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the
alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which
oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.
Review Date: 11/1/2010.
Reviewed by: Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery,
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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Aortic rupture, chest X-ray

Aortic rupture (a tear in the aorta, which is the major artery coming from the
heart) can be seen on a chest x-ray. In this case, it was caused by a traumatic
perforation of the thoracic aorta. This is how the x-ray appears when the chest is
full of blood (right-sided hemothorax) seen here as cloudiness on the left side of
the picture.
Review Date: 11/1/2010.
Reviewed by: Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery,
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Pneumothorax - chest X-ray

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Pneumothorax occurs when air leaks from inside of the lung to the space
between the lung and the chest wall. The lung then collapses. The dark side of
the chest (right side of the picture) is filled with air that is outside of the lung
tissue.
Review Date: 8/19/2009.
Reviewed by: David A. Kaufman, MD, Section Chief, Pulmonary, Critical Care
& Sleep Medicine, Bridgeport Hospital-Yale New Haven Health System, and
Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven,
CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David
Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Respiratory system
Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea
and bronchi to the lungs.
Review Date: 11/1/2010.
Reviewed by: Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery,
Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Disclaimer
Copyright © 2011, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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