What are the symptoms of pneumothorax?

Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
Updated on September 20, 2024
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Pneumothorax refers to the accumulation of air that occurs when air enters the pleural cavity, a closed space, which is known as pneumothorax. The most common clinical manifestations of pneumothorax depend on the speed of onset, the degree of lung compression, and the etiology of the primary disease causing the pneumothorax. Typically, patients may experience a high level of mental tension, fear, restlessness, shortness of breath, and a feeling of suffocation. Some individuals may sweat, have an increased pulse rate, with the most prominent symptom being difficulty in breathing. Additionally, some patients may experience coughing and chest pain, and some may develop mediastinal emphysema, leading to gradually worsening respiratory difficulties, and even manifestations of shock such as a drop in blood pressure.

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Written by Li Tao
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax is what disease?

Pneumothorax refers to the condition where gas enters the pleural cavity. Normally, the pleural cavity is a sealed space formed by the visceral pleura covering the lung surface and the parietal pleura on the chest wall. When gas enters the pleural cavity due to some reason, causing a state of gas accumulation, it is called pneumothorax. The causes of pneumothorax can be diseases of the lungs themselves or gas produced after the lungs and chest wall are injured by external forces. Typically, the condition occurs when the pleura near the lung surface ruptures, allowing gas to enter the pleural cavity, which is referred to as pneumothorax.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax clinical manifestations

Pneumothorax is primarily caused by various factors, both internal and external to the lungs, leading to a significant accumulation of gas within the chest cavity. Patients exhibit symptoms such as chest tightness, breathlessness, including coughing, chest pain, and other related symptoms, which are collectively referred to as pneumothorax. Patients with pneumothorax can be classified into mild and severe types. Generally, after the onset of pneumothorax, patients who only experience symptoms like panting, chest tightness, chest pain, or coughing, but maintain stable blood pressure and heart rate, are considered to have a mild condition. However, if in addition to these respiratory symptoms, the patient clearly exhibits a drop in blood pressure, a decrease in oxygen saturation, or a reduction in heart rate, these conditions are considered severe and require urgent treatment.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax pleurodesis: what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Pleurodesis for pneumothorax involves injecting a sclerosant into the pleural cavity to induce a sterile inflammation, causing adhesion of the parietal and visceral pleurae, thereby eliminating the pleural space. This can be used to treat pneumothorax. The benefits include a high success rate, simple operation, and low recurrence rate. The downside is that there can be adverse reactions, the most common being chest pain and fever; severe cases may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. Therefore, extra care is needed during the pleurodesis procedure.

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Written by Zhang Zhi Gong
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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Pneumothorax recurrence symptoms

We know that normally there is no air in the pleural cavity, only a small amount of fluid or lubricant exists. However, in certain people, such as those who often smoke, tall and thin young people, and patients with chronic bronchitis, the alveoli in their lungs tend to be more fragile and can easily rupture. People experiencing a pneumothorax for the first time might feel this during certain situations like after a cold, coughing, sneezing, or playing sports, which can lead to a recurrence of the pneumothorax. Early symptoms of a recurrence, due to only a small amount of air compression, might not be very uncomfortable, just a slight sense of difficulty breathing. As the pneumothorax increases, symptoms like chest pain and difficulty breathing can develop. Therefore, the symptoms of a recurring pneumothorax are not identical each time, but there is a pattern; the severity can range from mild breathing difficulty to severe respiratory distress and chest pain.

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Written by Wang Xiang Yu
Pulmonology
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What department should I go to for pneumothorax?

What department is pneumothorax treated in? For pneumothorax, we commonly see patients first in the emergency department, as the onset of pneumothorax is generally very sudden and the condition can be quite severe. The patient may suddenly experience difficulty breathing, and in most cases, this breathing difficulty is severe. Therefore, patients typically start by seeing the emergency internal medicine department. The doctors there will assess the patient’s condition and will consult with thoracic and cardiovascular surgery and respiratory medicine. If a closed thoracic drainage tube is needed, our surgeons will immediately perform the drainage. If the patient can be treated conservatively, they are usually then transferred to either respiratory medicine or thoracic and cardiovascular surgery for further treatment.