PNEUMOTHORAX

(COLLAPSED LUNG)
A pneumothorax is a collapsed lung due to air accumulating inside the
chest cavity.

Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax occurs when air

leaks into the space between the
lungs and chest wall which pushes
on the outside of the lung and
makes it collapse. In most cases,
only a portion of the lung

Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax)

A pneumothorax can be
caused by a blunt or
penetrating chest injury,
certain medical procedures
involving the lungs or due
to underlying lung disease.
Sometimes, pneumothorax
occurs for no obvious
reason.

Symptoms of Pneumothorax

1. Chest pain

2.
of

Shortness
breath

Chest pain Sudden, sharp chest pain on

the same side as the affected lung.
Shortness of breath This may be mild or
severe, depending on how much of your lung
is collapsed and whether your have
underlying lung disease.

One should seek immediate medical

help in cause of sudden chest pain and
troubled breathing.

Causes of Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax can be caused by a chest injury,

underlying lung disease or ruptured air blisters.
Pneumothorax also can occur for no obvious reason.
Chest Injuries : Any blunt or penetrating injury to
your chest can cause lung collapse. Some injuries
may happen during physical assaults or car crashes,
while others may inadvertently occur during certain
medical procedures.

Risk Factors of Pneumothorax

Sex - In general, men are far more likely to

have a pneumothorax than are women.

Smoking - The risk increases with the length

of time and the number of cigarettes smoked,
even without emphysema.

Age The type of pneumothorax caused by

ruptured air blisters is most likely to occur in
young individuals between 20 and 40years
old.

Genetics Certain types of pneumothorax

appear to run in families.

Sex

Smoking
Age

Genetics

Risk Factors of Pneumothorax

Lung disease Certain underlying lung

disease especially emphysema, pulmonary
fibrosis, sarcoidosis and cystic fibrosis .

Mechanic
al
ventilation

Mechanical ventilation Critical patients who

need mechanical ventilation to breathe
effectively are at higher risk of
pneumothorax.

History of
pneumotho
rax

A history of pneumothorax Anyone who has

had one pneumothorax is at increased risk of
another, usually within one to two years of
the first episode.

Lung
disease

Complications of Pneumothorax
Low
blood
oxygen
levels
Cardiac
arrest

Respiratory
failure

Persistent air leak Air may

sometimes continue to leak if the
opening in the lung won't close.
Surgery may eventually be
needed to close the air leak.
Recurrence - Patients who have
had one pneumothorax have
another, usually within three

Treatment of Pneumothorax

The purpose of treating a pneumothorax is

to relieve the pressure on the lung, by
removing the air and hence allowing it to
re-expand, and to prevent recurrences. The
best method for achieving this depends on
the severity of the lung collapse and on
the patients overall health.

Pneumothorax Surgical Treatment in

India

Surgery is advised as the definitive management.

In most cases, the surgery can be performed
through small key-hole incisions, using a tiny fiber
optic camera and narrow, long-handled surgical
tools. This is known as Video Assisted Thoracic
Surgery/ Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Dr. (Prof.) Arvind Kumar

MBBS(AIMS),
MS(SURGERY,
AIIMS), MNAMS,
FACS, FICS,
FUICC
Senior
Consultant :
General,
Laparoscopic,
Thoracic,
Thoracoscopic
& Robotic
Surgeon

Dr. (Prof.) Arvind Kumar is

presently the Director,
Institute of Robotic Surgery
and the Chairman of Centre
for Chest Surgery & Lung
Transplantation at Sir Ganga
Ram Hospital, New Delhi. Its
under his aegis and efforts
that Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
has become Asia's first
hospital to deliver successful
Robotic Vascular Surgery.

Join with Dr. (Prof.) Arvind Kumar on

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