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Pneumothorax

A collapsed lung, otherwise known as a pneumothorax, is a condition that occurs when air enters the pleural space (the space between the chest wall and the lung). The buildup of air results in an increase in pressure acting on the lung, causing it to collapse. The pressure also prevents the lung from expanding fully when inhaling. 



As a result, presenting symptoms include a sudden attack of chest pain. This is followed by a steady ache in the chest, shortness of breath, cyanosis (turning blue) and severe tachycardia (fast heart rate). 


There are two types of pneumothorax, traumatic pneumothorax and non-traumatic pneumothorax. Traumatic pneumothorax occurs after trauma or injury to the chest. The trauma can damage chest structures and cause air to leak into the pleural space. Traumatic pneumothorax is common in contact sports such as football or rugby. 


On the other hand, non-traumatic pneumothorax occurs spontaneously. There are two furthers subcategories, primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP). PSP occurs in people with no known lung disease whereas SSP tends to occur in older people with known lung problems. 


If the pneumothorax is very small, it is possible for the lung to re-inflate on its own. As the severity increases, procedures such as needle aspiration or percutaneous chest tube drainage may be carried out to remove the air in the pleural space. If these methods are ineffective, surgical treatment may be needed.



Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/collapsed-lung#symptoms

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15304-collapsed-lung-pneumothorax

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15304-collapsed-lung-pneumothorax/management-and-treatment

https://www.drugs.com/cg/spontaneous-pneumothorax.html

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