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 Xia Bao Jun
Pulmonology
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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.

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Written by Zhang Zhi Gong
Cardiothoracic Surgery
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How to check for hemothorax and pneumothorax?

Actually, the examination methods for hemothorax and pneumothorax are quite simple. From their definitions, we know that hemothorax means the abnormal presence of blood in the pleural cavity, and pneumothorax means the presence of gas in the pleural cavity where it shouldn't be. Therefore, the simplest examination is an X-ray, a standard frontal and lateral chest X-ray, which usually costs about 52 yuan, can detect whether a patient has pneumothorax. As for hemothorax, of course, it involves the use of a syringe. After injecting some lidocaine local anesthesia into the patient, if blood is withdrawn from the pleural cavity, then it indicates a hemothorax. Thus, the first step in examining for hemothorax and pneumothorax is to perform an X-ray to check for the presence of gas. If gas is detected, then it is pneumothorax. If liquid is found, a syringe under ultrasound guidance can be used to withdraw it. If the withdrawal yields fluid, it indicates pleural effusion; if blood is drawn, then it indicates hemothorax.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Pneumothorax pleurodesis: what are the advantages and disadvantages?

Pleurodesis for pneumothorax involves injecting a sclerosant into the pleural cavity to induce a sterile inflammation, causing adhesion of the parietal and visceral pleurae, thereby eliminating the pleural space. This can be used to treat pneumothorax. The benefits include a high success rate, simple operation, and low recurrence rate. The downside is that there can be adverse reactions, the most common being chest pain and fever; severe cases may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. Therefore, extra care is needed during the pleurodesis procedure.

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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 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.