| What is this Condition? | | | | veins of the chest diminishes cardiac output and |
| Collapsed lung is an accumulation of air or gas | | | | lowers blood pressure. |
| between the membranes that enclose the lungs. The | | | | What are its Symptoms? |
| amount of air or gas that's trapped determines the | | | | The cardinal features of a collapsed lung are sudden, |
| degree of lung collapse. In a tension pneumothorax, the | | | | sharp chest pain (exacerbated by movement of the |
| air in the membranes is under higher pressure than air | | | | chest, breathing, and coughing); asymmetrical chest |
| in the adjacent lung and blood vessels. Without prompt | | | | wall movement; shortness of breath; and bluish skin |
| treatment, a tension or a large pneumothorax results in | | | | discoloration. In moderate to severe pneumothorax, |
| fatal lung and circulatory impairment. | | | | profound respiratory distress may develop, with signs |
| Pneumothorax can also be classified as open or | | | | of tension pneumothorax: weak and rapid pulse, pallor, |
| closed. In open pneumothorax (usually the result of | | | | neck vein distention, anxiety. |
| injury), air flows between the lung membrane and the | | | | Tension pneumothorax produces the most severe |
| outside of the body. In closed pneumothorax, air | | | | respiratory symptoms; a spontaneous pneumothorax |
| reaches the membrane space directly from the lung. | | | | that releases only a small amount of air into the lung |
| What Causes it? | | | | membrane may cause no symptoms. |
| Spontaneous pneumothorax usually occurs in | | | | How is it Diagnosed? |
| otherwise healthy adults ages 20 to 40. It may be | | | | Sudden, sharp chest pain and shortness of breath |
| caused by air leakage from ruptured blebs (blisterlike | | | | suggest pneumothorax. A chest X-ray showing air in |
| accumulations of fluid) that are present at birth. It also | | | | lung membrane confirms this diagnosis. How is it |
| may be caused by an emphysematous bleb that | | | | Treated? |
| ruptures during exercise or coughing or from | | | | Treatment is conservative for spontaneous |
| tuberculosis or cancer. The lung may also collapse | | | | pneumothorax in which no signs of increased |
| spontaneously in interstitial lung disease. | | | | membrane pressure (indicating tension pneumothorax) |
| Traumatic pneumothorax may be caused by chest | | | | appear, lung collapse is less than 30%, and the person |
| surgery; a penetrating chest injury, such as a gunshot | | | | has no shortness of breath or other signs of distress. |
| or knife wound; or the removal and analysis of lung | | | | The treatment consists of bed rest; careful monitoring |
| tissue. | | | | of blood pressure, pulse rate, and respirations; oxygen |
| In tension pneumothorax, positive pressure in the lung | | | | administration; and possibly, removal of air with a |
| membrane develops as a result of any of the causes | | | | needle. If more than 30% of the lung has collapsed, a |
| of traumatic pneumothorax. When air enters the | | | | chest tube may be inserted to restore pressure. |
| membrane through a tear in lung tissue and is unable | | | | Recurring spontaneous pneumothorax requires |
| to leave the same way, each inward breath traps air | | | | surgery. Traumatic and tension pneumothorax require |
| in the membrane, resulting in positive pressure. This in | | | | chest tube drainage; traumatic pneumothorax may |
| turn causes collapse of the lung and impaired return of | | | | also require surgery. |
| blood through the veins. Decreased filling of the great | | | | |