Pneumothorax auscultation what sound?

Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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Pneumothorax is a common medical emergency. After suffering from a pneumothorax, symptoms often include chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Regarding lung auscultation by a doctor after pneumothorax, the sound heard primarily depends on the amount of air accumulated. If the air accumulation is minimal, the physical signs may not be obvious. If there is a substantial amount of air, the breathing sounds during auscultation are reduced. In cases of a large pneumothorax, the breathing sounds may disappear, while on the healthy side, the breathing sounds may be coarser and intensified. Therefore, if pneumothorax is suspected during a lung auscultation examination, an immediate imaging test should be conducted to confirm the diagnosis.

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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 Zhang Zhi Gong
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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How many days does it take for a pneumothorax to heal?

The healing time for a patient with pneumothorax, or how many days it takes to heal, mainly depends on when the rupture on the lung heals. In younger patients who have good elasticity and strong healing capabilities, and whose nutrition keeps up, pneumothorax tends to heal relatively easily. Especially in younger patients experiencing pneumothorax for the first time, 70-80% may heal within two to three days because the gas escapes very quickly. Once the surface rupture on the lung heals, it can be cleared within a day, leading to healing. However, if the patient is older and also has conditions like tuberculosis or chronic bronchitis, the elasticity of the lungs is poorer, making healing difficult. Like a balloon without elasticity, if it gets a rupture, it may continue to expand, complicating the prediction of healing time. Regardless of age, whether the patient is young or old, if pneumothorax recurs a second time, it is advisable to seek aggressive treatment. Patients who have experienced pneumothorax twice are at more than a 70% to 80% risk of a third occurrence. This indicates a weak spot on the lung surface, similar to a wound on the hand. If a hand wound does not heal in a few days, it can be sutured. The same applies to lung surface wounds; as it is located inside the chest cavity, a thoracoscope is needed for suturing. Thus, in normal circumstances, pneumothorax could heal in a few days, but if repeatedly delayed, aggressive treatment might be necessary.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can pneumothorax heal by itself?

Pneumothorax is caused by a rupture of the pleura, allowing air to enter the pleural cavity, and it is relatively common clinically. Can pneumothorax be cured after it occurs? It depends on the specific circumstances. If it is a closed pneumothorax with a small amount of air accumulation, conservative treatments like rest and oxygen therapy can allow for self-healing of the pneumothorax. However, in most cases, the accumulation of air is generally significant, and often it is a tension pneumothorax. In these instances, treatments generally involve pleural cavity puncture, or closed pleural drainage to drain the air, making it difficult to heal spontaneously and requiring medical treatment. Moreover, some patients may not recover fully despite aggressive treatment and may require surgical intervention.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can pneumothorax patients take a plane?

Pneumothorax is a relatively common clinical condition, usually caused by a rupture of the pleura, allowing air to enter the pleural cavity. Patients often experience symptoms such as chest pain, difficulty breathing, and coughing. So, can someone with pneumothorax fly on an airplane? Patients with pneumothorax are prohibited from flying because the high altitude may aggravate the condition, leading to serious consequences. Even after pneumothorax has healed, it is advised not to fly within a year, as flying may cause the pneumothorax to recur.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can you smoke with pneumothorax?

After suffering from pneumothorax, patients often experience symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and coughing. Can patients smoke after suffering from pneumothorax? It is advised against smoking after suffering from pneumothorax, as smoke and harmful substances directly irritate the respiratory tract, worsening the patient's symptoms. Additionally, smoking produces a large amount of carbon monoxide, which, when absorbed by the body, can cause hypoxia, thereby exacerbating symptoms of breathing difficulty. Therefore, patients with pneumothorax should not smoke, and it is also recommended to quit smoking even after recovery from pneumothorax, as smoking is harmful in many ways and particularly damaging to the respiratory system.