Ency. home > Disease > P > Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Air around the lung; Air outside the lung; Primary pneumothorax; Secondary pneumothorax; Tension pneumothorax

Definition:

A collection of air or gas in the pleural space, which surrounds the lungs.  See also spontaneous pneumothorax, traumatic pneumothorax, and tension pneumothorax.

Causes and Risks

There are several types of pneumothorax, which are classified by cause.

Spontaneous pneumothorax is the occurrence of pneumothorax without a clear cause.  Primary spontaneous pneumothorax occurs when there is no known underlying lung disease.  It is thought to be caused by the rupture of a small, air-filled sac in the lung called a bleb or a bulla. The disease affects tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old most frequently. Cigarette smoking and family history are contributing factors.

Secondary spontaneous pneumothorax is a complication of underlying pulmonary (lung) disease (COPD, asthma, cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis, whooping cough).

Traumatic pneumothorax results from a traumatic injury to the chest. The trauma may be penetrating (stab wound, gunshot) or blunt (blow from a motor vehicle accident).  Pneumothorax may complicate certain medical procedures.

Tension pneumothorax is caused when excessive pressure builds up around the lung, forcing it to collapse.  The excessive pressure can also prevent the heart from pumping blood effectively, leading to shock. 

Ency. home > Disease > P > Pneumothorax

---

[an error occurred while processing this directive]