Spontaneous pneumothorax and the difference between pneumothorax.

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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Simply put, spontaneous pneumothorax is a type of pneumothorax. In the classification of pneumothorax, besides spontaneous pneumothorax, there are also traumatic pneumothorax and iatrogenic pneumothorax. Traumatic pneumothorax is caused by direct or indirect injury to the chest wall, while iatrogenic pneumothorax occurs during medical diagnosis and treatment. Spontaneous pneumothorax often involves underlying lung diseases, such as emphysema, lung bullae, tuberculosis, lung cancer, and pneumoconiosis. It can also occur in healthy individuals without obvious lung abnormalities, typically seen in tall, thin males of young to middle age.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can pneumothorax heal by itself?

Pneumothorax is caused by a rupture of the pleura, allowing air to enter the pleural cavity, and it is relatively common clinically. Can pneumothorax be cured after it occurs? It depends on the specific circumstances. If it is a closed pneumothorax with a small amount of air accumulation, conservative treatments like rest and oxygen therapy can allow for self-healing of the pneumothorax. However, in most cases, the accumulation of air is generally significant, and often it is a tension pneumothorax. In these instances, treatments generally involve pleural cavity puncture, or closed pleural drainage to drain the air, making it difficult to heal spontaneously and requiring medical treatment. Moreover, some patients may not recover fully despite aggressive treatment and may require surgical intervention.

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Written by Hao Ze Rui
Pulmonology
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What are the main signs of pneumothorax?

If it is a small amount of pneumothorax, the physical signs are generally not obvious, especially when patients with emphysema develop pneumothorax, it is difficult to detect any signs. However, when a larger amount of pneumothorax occurs, inspection will reveal that the affected side of the chest is bulging and respiratory movements are reduced. Upon palpation, the trachea usually shifts towards the healthy side, tactile fremitus on the affected side is reduced, percussion results in hyperresonance or tympany, and auscultation shows reduced breath sounds, which can disappear in severe cases.

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Written by Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax tracheal shift to which side?

When a patient suffers a pneumothorax, the trachea is displaced to the opposite side, and the heart is also shifted to the opposite side. In cases of left-sided pneumothorax, the heart's dullness boundary and the upper boundary of the liver during right-sided pneumothorax are both undetectable. There can be manifestations of subcutaneous emphysema in the neck, chest, and even the head and abdomen. The patient may exhibit diminished respiratory movements and a significant reduction or absence of breath sounds. When a small amount of air accumulates in the pleural cavity, weakened breath sounds on the affected side may be the only suspicious sign.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Is pneumothorax the same as emphysema?

Pneumothorax and emphysema can both manifest symptoms such as chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and coughing. However, is pneumothorax the same as emphysema? Pneumothorax and emphysema are two different diseases. Simply put, pneumothorax is a pleural disease caused by a rupture of the pleura, while emphysema is a disease of the airways. When a lung is imaged for pneumothorax, the film shows lung compression. It is possible to see the external boundary of the compressed lung where pneumothorax is present, with no lung markings. In the case of emphysema, imaging shows that the thoracic cage is expanded, with widened intercostal spaces, and increased translucency in both lung lobes. Therefore, the differences between pneumothorax and emphysema are significant, and they are not the same disease.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can pneumothorax recover by itself?

Pneumothorax is caused by a rupture of the pleura, allowing air to enter the pleural space. Patients often display symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. A lung radiograph can confirm the presence of a pneumothorax. Whether a patient with pneumothorax can recover on their own depends on the size of the pneumothorax. If it is a large pneumothorax, especially a communicative or tension pneumothorax, self-recovery is not possible, and treatment generally involves pleural puncture or pleural drainage tube placement. However, if the amount of air in the pneumothorax is small and the patient does not exhibit severe symptoms, then it is possible for the condition to resolve itself with bed rest.