During a thoracotomy, your surgeon will create an incision in the pleural space to help them see the problem. During a thoracoscopy, also known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery VATS , the doctor inserts a tiny camera through the chest wall to examine the lung.
The doctor may also carry out pleurodesis, in which they stick the lung to the inside of the chest wall. In many cases, a person with pneumothorax will need emergency medical treatment, and emergency doctors will carry out the evaluation and diagnosis.
Your long-term outlook depends on the size of the pneumothorax, the cause, and any treatment you receive. Most cases of primary spontaneous pneumothorax resolve with observation or minimal treatment.
The risk of this type recurring within 5 years is around 43 percent , and the risk increases each time it happens. Knowing your risk of developing pneumothorax and seeking help as soon as symptoms occur can help prevent severe complications.
Pneumothorax is a condition where air collects between the lungs and the chest cavity. In others, it can be life-threatening. This will depend on the size and cause of the problem. There are different types of pneumothorax. Traumatic pneumothorax can happen if someone has an injury to the chest wall or lungs. Nontraumatic pneumothorax can affect people with COPD and other lung diseases, but it can also affect people without lung disease.
Treatment aims to remove the air and re-expand the lungs. In some cases, a surgeon may need to repair the lungs. Pneumothorax can be a life-threatening emergency. Anyone who experiences symptoms, like a sharp, stabbing pain in the chest, should seek immediate medical help. Learn about a punctured lung, including what to expect during recovery. Learn about chest tube insertion, why it's done, how to prepare for it, and what to expect during the procedure.
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Important Phone Numbers. When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Care Instructions A collapsed lung pneumothorax is a buildup of air in the space between the lung and the chest wall.
How can you care for yourself at home? Get plenty of rest and sleep. You may feel weak and tired for a while, but your energy level will improve with time. Hold a pillow against your chest when you cough or take deep breaths. This will support your chest and decrease your pain. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics. If you have a bandage over your chest tube, or the place where the chest tube was inserted, keep it clean and dry. Follow your doctor's instructions on bandage care.
If you go home with a tube in place, follow the doctor's directions. Do not adjust the tube in any way. This could break the seal or cause other problems. Keep the tube dry. Avoid any movements that require your muscles, especially your chest muscles, to strain.
Such movements include laughing hard, bearing down to have a bowel movement, and heavy lifting. People who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop a pneumothorax than those who don't.
Also, the more you smoke, the greater your chances are of having a pneumothorax. Symptoms depend on the size of the pneumothorax. In minor cases, you may not realize you have a pneumothorax. In more severe cases, symptoms will develop rapidly and may lead to shock. Symptoms may become worse with altitude changes such as flying in an airplane or going underground or underwater.
A pneumothorax usually is diagnosed through a physical exam and a chest X-ray. Your doctor may also perform blood tests to measure the level of oxygen in your blood.
A computed tomography CT scan or ultrasound may be needed to diagnose the severity of your condition and help plan your treatment. A minor pneumothorax may only require observation by your doctor; in some cases, oxygen may be given through a mask. More serious cases are treated by inserting a needle or a chest tube into the chest cavity. Both of these procedures relieve the pressure on the lung and allow it to re-expand.
If you have had one pneumothorax, you have an increased risk for another. Nearly all recurrences happen within 2 years of the first pneumothorax. If you smoke, quitting smoking can reduce your risk of another pneumothorax. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E.
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