How many days do you usually stay in the hospital for pneumothorax drainage?

Written by Li Ying

Pulmonology

Updated on December 19, 2024

00:00

00:00

This depends on whether the pneumothorax is a simple pneumothorax or is complicated by other diseases. If there are no other lung diseases present and it is just a simple pneumothorax, then typically, drainage by tube for 5 to 7 days can lead to a complete recovery and cure. However, if there are complications such as emphysema, pulmonary heart disease, pneumoconiosis, or lung infections, then it is necessary first to control the infections. During this time, the pneumothorax can easily become a communicating pneumothorax. If it lasts for more than 1 to 2 weeks, it may turn into a refractory pneumothorax. In the case of refractory pneumothorax, besides drainage, minimally invasive surgeries such as pleurodesis or pneumothorax occlusion procedures are required. These surgeries take time. Therefore, if a stubborn pneumothorax forms, especially when complications like emphysema are present, hospital stays often need to be 14 days or even longer.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Zhi Gong

Cardiothoracic Surgery

58sec

home-news-image

Pneumothorax recurrence symptoms

We know that normally there is no air in the pleural cavity, only a small amount of fluid or lubricant exists. However, in certain people, such as those who often smoke, tall and thin young people, and patients with chronic bronchitis, the alveoli in their lungs tend to be more fragile and can easily rupture. People experiencing a pneumothorax for the first time might feel this during certain situations like after a cold, coughing, sneezing, or playing sports, which can lead to a recurrence of the pneumothorax. Early symptoms of a recurrence, due to only a small amount of air compression, might not be very uncomfortable, just a slight sense of difficulty breathing. As the pneumothorax increases, symptoms like chest pain and difficulty breathing can develop. Therefore, the symptoms of a recurring pneumothorax are not identical each time, but there is a pattern; the severity can range from mild breathing difficulty to severe respiratory distress and chest pain.

home-news-image

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

47sec

home-news-image

Pneumothorax auscultation what sound?

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.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Zhi Gong

Cardiothoracic Surgery

1min 10sec

home-news-image

Pneumothorax should be seen by which department?

If it is the patient's first pneumothorax occurrence and they are relatively young with no obvious lung bullae on the surface of their lungs, then seeing the emergency department should be sufficient to resolve the issue. Generally, if less than 20% of the lung is compressed, the patient can simply breathe oxygen at home or at a community hospital to gradually recover. However, if the patient is older and the degree of pneumothorax exceeds 20%, even reaching above 30%, it is advisable to insert a small tube between one and two millimeters into the pleural cavity to extract the air. At this point, it is recommended to consult thoracic surgery. After the air is released, a CT scan is also necessary to check for obvious lung bullae or small tears on the lung surface. If a small tear is found, it is best to use minimally invasive thoracoscopy to suture or seal the tear to prevent recurrence. Therefore, if possible, directly consider consulting thoracic surgery for pneumothorax; if thoracic surgery is not available, then consider seeing the emergency department.

home-news-image

Written by Han Shun Li

Pulmonology

45sec

home-news-image

What position should be taken for pneumothorax?

Pneumothorax occurs when the pleura ruptures and gas enters the pleural cavity, often compressing the lung tissue. Patients may experience symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, and coughing. The choice of lying position for patients with pneumothorax depends on the severity of the pneumothorax and the degree of chest tightness. If the pneumothorax is mild and the symptoms are not obvious, the patient can lie flat. If there is significant chest tightness, a semi-recumbent position may be adopted. If the chest tightness is severe and the patient has significant difficulty breathing, they often assume a sitting position, frequently struggling to breathe, sweating profusely, and may even experience respiratory failure, requiring immediate attention.

home-news-image

Written by Zhang Zhi Gong

Cardiothoracic Surgery

1min 12sec

home-news-image

How to treat recurrent pneumothorax for the second time?

Patients with recurrent pneumothorax, we recommend proactive minimally invasive surgical intervention. For patients experiencing their first recurrence of pneumothorax, the likelihood of a second recurrence is about 20-30%. For those who have had two episodes of pneumothorax, it indicates the presence of a small rupture on the lung, or an area that has not healed well, or is particularly weak. Thus, for patients who have had two episodes or a second occurrence of pneumothorax, if they do not receive active treatment, the probability of a third recurrence rises to about 70-80%. Whether using minimally invasive surgery or the conservative method of simple tube insertion, both are certainly burdensome for the patient. However, for patients with a second occurrence of pneumothorax, undergoing a small minimally invasive surgery, which involves a small incision of one to two centimeters under the armpit to treat the pneumothorax, dramatically reduces the likelihood of subsequent occurrences from the previous 70-80% to below 10%. Therefore, the best treatment for a second pneumothorax episode is through minimally invasive surgical intervention.