Pneumothorax-I

A pneumothorax is a condition where air builds up in the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing the lung to collapse. This condition arises when air enters the space between the parietal and visceral pleura, disrupting the negative pressure essential for lung inflation. This can lead to a partial or complete collapse of the lung.

Pneumothorax can be even further classified as spontaneous, traumatic, and tension pneumothorax.

• • Spontaneous pneumothorax is a collapsed lung that happens without any apparent injury and occurs due to the rupture of tiny blebs or air-filled sacs on the surface of the lung. Risk factors include underlying lung diseases such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, severe asthma, tuberculosis, certain types of pneumonia, sarcoidosis, thoracic endometriosis, pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer, and lung sarcomas.

Additional risk factors include smoking, being tall and lean, male sex, familial predisposition, and previous instances of pneumothorax.

• • Traumatic pneumothorax, a condition characterized by the presence of air in the pleural space, can occur as a result of physical trauma or medical procedures.

It is further classified into injury-related pneumothorax, which typically arises from chest trauma or penetrating injuries that puncture the lung. 

Typical scenarios include rib fractures where broken bone fragments pierce the lung tissue. Sports-related incidents, automobile accidents, and puncture or stab wounds are frequent causes.

• • Iatrogenic pneumothorax can occur when the lung is inadvertently punctured during medical procedures such as lung biopsy, needle aspiration, central venous line insertion, subclavian catheter insertion, pleural biopsy, and transbronchial lung biopsy.

Both injury-related and iatrogenic pneumothorax represent potential complications that require prompt medical attention and management.

• • A tension pneumothorax arises when air enters the pleural space from a lung injury or chest wall opening but gets trapped, leading to pressure build-up with each breath. The one-way valve mechanism creates tension in the affected area, affecting breathing and circulation. It leads to a collapsed lung and a displacement of vital structures, such as the heart and trachea, towards the unaffected side, known as a mediastinal shift. This urgent condition requires immediate intervention due to its capacity to impede heart function, blood flow, and oxygen supply, potentially resulting in severe oxygen depletion.