Chest Injury : Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax refers to an abnormal introduction of air into the chest cavity, resulting in the collapse of a lung on the affected side. This may occur due to penetration of the chest wall [by a knife, etc.] or via rupture of the lung itself. Ruptures of the lung may occur spontaneously, or after a severe blunt force has been applied to the chest. This condition requires IMMEDIATE emergency care.
The chest cavity is maintained at a negative air pressure which allows the lungs to fill with air easily. This is why breathing is almost "effortless." Violation of the chest wall or lung tissue will disturb the negative air pressure, leading to an abrupt influx of outside air, thereby producing a pneumothorax.
Common symptoms of a pneumothorax include the sudden onset of breathing difficulty, accompanied by chest pain (pleurisy) that INCREASES while breathing in.
Treatment will be based on the size of the pneumothorax which is revealed by a chest x-ray. Surgical placement of a plastic tube into the chest cavity to "suck out" the excess air is commonly required. This procedure is often lifesaving. A large pneumothorax can lead to shock, followed by death.
Hospitalization is necessary in all cases. The chest tube will remain in place until the lung has adequately healed (several days or more). Follow-up chest x-rays, after tube removal, will be necessary to avoid any recurrence.
Thoracic Surgeon is the expert in the management of this problem.
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