Pneumothorax is caused by what?

Written by Xia Bao Jun

Pulmonology

Updated on September 10, 2024

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Pneumothorax is caused by the entry of air into the pleural cavity, leading to a series of changes. Pneumothorax can be divided into spontaneous and traumatic pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs without trauma or other causes, while traumatic pneumothorax is caused by direct or indirect trauma to the pleura. Spontaneous pneumothorax can be further categorized into primary and secondary pneumothorax. Patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax do not have underlying lung disease, whereas secondary pneumothorax is a complication of lung disease, commonly seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Traumatic pneumothorax includes iatrogenic pneumothorax, which occurs during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

45sec

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Can pneumothorax measure lung capacity?

Pneumothorax is a very common type of disease, caused by many and complex factors. It is classified into three different types based on individual conditions, so different types of pneumothorax lead to different clinical symptoms and consequences for the patient. Usually, it is not advisable to measure lung capacity immediately after a pneumothorax occurs. For lighter cases, it is recommended to wait at least half a month before measuring lung capacity. If the pneumothorax is severe, the interval may need to be over a month before conducting lung capacity measurements. Therefore, while patients with pneumothorax can have their lung capacity measured, this should only be done once the condition is effectively managed.

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Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

45sec

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Spontaneous pneumothorax and the difference between pneumothorax.

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

45sec

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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.

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Written by Li Jie

Orthopedics

1min 37sec

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How to treat rib fracture and pneumothorax?

After a rib fracture, if a pneumothorax occurs, it is a very serious complication. There are three types of pneumothorax: closed pneumothorax, open pneumothorax, and tension pneumothorax. The simplest is the closed pneumothorax. If the area of lung compression in a closed pneumothorax is less than 30%, there is a hope for self-healing, and generally no special treatment is needed; if the lung compression exceeds 30%, it might be necessary to place a closed thoracic drainage tube to drain the air accumulating in the chest cavity, which may need to stay in the chest cavity for about a week. This is the treatment for a closed pneumothorax. If it is an open pneumothorax, it means there is an open wound on the chest. The treatment principle is to convert the open pneumothorax to a closed pneumothorax, which means sealing the wound, turning it into a closed pneumothorax, and then taking x-rays to assess the degree of lung compression. If the compression is significant, closed thoracic drainage is still necessary; if the compression is less severe, observation can continue. For a tension pneumothorax, it is the most severe type of pneumothorax and must be taken very seriously. Emergency placement of a closed thoracic drainage is recommended and must be handled promptly, as it could pose a life-threatening risk. In summary, once a pneumothorax occurs following rib fractures, it must be taken seriously. It is necessary to go to the hospital's thoracic surgery or orthopedic department for formal and timely treatment to prevent potentially severe consequences.

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Written by Xia Bao Jun

Pulmonology

51sec

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Pneumothorax is caused by what?

Pneumothorax is caused by the entry of air into the pleural cavity, leading to a series of changes. Pneumothorax can be divided into spontaneous and traumatic pneumothorax. Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs without trauma or other causes, while traumatic pneumothorax is caused by direct or indirect trauma to the pleura. Spontaneous pneumothorax can be further categorized into primary and secondary pneumothorax. Patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax do not have underlying lung disease, whereas secondary pneumothorax is a complication of lung disease, commonly seen in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Traumatic pneumothorax includes iatrogenic pneumothorax, which occurs during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.