However, a small pneumothorax may heal on its own. The main symptoms of a pneumothorax are sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. Severity of symptoms may depend on how much of the lung is collapsed. Symptoms of a pneumothorax can be caused by a variety of health problems, and some can be life-threatening, so seek medical attention. If your chest pain is severe or breathing becomes increasingly difficult, get immediate emergency care. In general, men are far more likely to have a pneumothorax than women are.
The type of pneumothorax caused by ruptured air blisters is most likely to occur in people between 20 and 40 years old, especially if the person is very tall and underweight. Underlying lung disease or mechanical ventilation can be a cause or a risk factor for a pneumothorax. Other risk factors include:. Potential complications vary, depending on the size and severity of the pneumothorax as well as the cause and treatment.
Sometimes air may continue to leak if the opening in the lung won't close or pneumothorax may recur. Pneumothorax care at Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. The long-term impact of pneumothorax can vary. If only a small amount of air is trapped in the pleural space, there may be no further complications. If the volume of air is larger or it affects the heart, it can be life-threatening.
If pneumothorax results from trauma, the symptoms often appear at the time of the injury or shortly after. Symptoms of spontaneous pneumothorax might appear when a person is at rest. A sudden attack of chest pain is often the first symptom. There are different ways of categorizing pneumothorax, according to their causes or their impact. One way of differentiating them is as follows :. Traumatic pneumothorax occurs after some type of trauma or injury has happened to the chest or lung wall.
It can be a minor or significant injury. The trauma can damage chest structures and cause air to leak into the pleural space. Quick treatment of pneumothorax due to chest trauma is critical as it can lead to fatal complications like cardiac arrest , respiratory failure , shock , and death.
Tension pneumothorax is not a classification of pneumothorax but a term that reflects the severity of pneumothorax. You may experience it if you have:. The risk factors are different for a traumatic and spontaneous pneumothorax. The options will depend on:. If you have tension pneumothorax or pneumothorax due to an injury, this is a life-threatening emergency.
If pneumothorax results from a small injury, it may heal without treatment within a few days. Check with a doctor before flying or diving after pneumothorax. Using oxygen can also help speed up the rate at which the lungs reabsorb air from the cavity. If the damage is significant or symptoms are severe, a surgeon may need to remove the air or carry out surgery. There is a risk of having another pneumothorax because you have already had one , so if symptoms occur again it is important to seek medical attention straight away.
Depending on the type and severity of your pneumothorax, you may require follow-up monitoring with chest X-rays. You may also need to avoid air travel as instructed by your medical team.
If you smoke, talk to your doctor about ways to quit, as smoking increases your risk for subsequent pneumothoraces. We need your feedback in order to improve the quality of our service.
Please take a few minutes to fill our survey Participate. Contact Us. You are here: Home Conditions Pneumothorax. Pneumothorax A pneumothorax is when the lung has collapsed due to air entering the space around your lungs known as the pleural space.
The image below shows a pneumothorax. Click image to enlarge What causes a pneumothorax? The doctor has checked you carefully, but problems can develop later. If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:. Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.
Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers.
When should you call for help?
0コメント