A traumatic pneumothorax is a collection of air inside the chest, between the lung and inner chest wall, which causes the lung to collapse. It results from an injury to the chest.

See also pneumothorax.

Collapsed lung

Traumatic pneumothorax occurs when a physical injury causes the lung to collapse. It can be caused by chest injury from a gunshot or knife wounds. It may also be caused by automobile accidents, or can happen after certain medical procedures.

High-risk medical procedures include transbronchial biopsy, pleural biopsy, thoracentesis, central venous catheter placement, intercostal needle anesthesia, and esophagoscopy.

Hemothorax , a collection of blood between the lung and chest wall, often happens with traumatic pneumothorax.

Images

Pneumothorax - chest X-ray

Respiratory system

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Traumatic pneumothorax Symptoms

Review Date: 08/11/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)