Pneumothorax

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Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Pneumothorax

Air around the lung; Air outside the lung

Small pneumothoraces may go away on their own.

Larger pneumothoraces require the removal of air from around the lung. A chest tube (chest tube insertion ) placed between the ribs into space surrounding the lungs helps clear the air and allows the lung to re-expand. This may takeseveral days(the chest tube is left in place). The patient must stay in the hospital while the chest tube is in place.

Supplemental oxygen may be needed to help air around the lung be reabsorbed more quickly.

Surgery may be needed to prevent recurrent episodes.

Up to 50% of patientswho have apneumothorax will have another, but there are no long-term complications following successful therapy.

• Recurrent pneumothorax
• Tension pneumothorax with shock

Call your health care provider if symptoms of pneumothorax develop, especially if you have previously experienced this condition.

Murray J, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine.3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2000.

Marx J. Rosen?s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice.5th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2002.

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