eCureMe logo
  eCureMe home eCureMe log In Sign Up!
eCureMe Life : Your Healthy Living. Click Here!
Welcome, eCureMe.com medical contents search January 6, 2015
       eCureMe Life
       Medical Supplies
       Calorie Count
       Self-Diagnosis
       Physician Search
       Message Board
      E-mail Doctor
      E-mail Veterinarian
      Self-Diagnosis
      Health-O-Matic Meter
      Calorie Count
      Natural Medicine
      Vitamins & Minerals
      Alternative Living
      My Health Chart
      Diseases & Treatments
      Atlas of Diseases
      Sexually Transmitted
      Diseases
      Drug Information
      Illegal Drugs
      Lab & Diagnostic Tests
      Internal Medicine
      Women’s Health
      Pediatrics
      Eye Disorders
      Skin Disorders
      Headache
      Mental Health
      Radiology
      Neurology
      Allergy
      Resource Links
      Physician Directory
      Dentist Directory
      Hospital Directory





Air in the Chest

more about Air in the Chest


Pneumothorax, collapsed lung, or collapsed chest



Normal

Abnormal

  • The lungs are covered by a saclike membrane known as the pleura, which separates the lungs from the chest wall (ribs).  The pleurae have two layers: one covers the lungs (visceral), the other is attached to the inside of the chest cavity (parietal).  Between the two layers there is a thin film of fluid that lubricates the lungs, allowing them to move smoothly during respiration (breathing).  Under normal conditions, there should be no air between the lungs and the chest cavity.  The introduction of air into this cavity will cause the lung to collapse, and compromise breathing.
  • The air may leak from a cut or hole in the visceral pleura (i.e., lung problem) or in the parietal pleura (i.e., bullet or knife wound).  When air enters the chest cavity, the condition is known as Pneumothorax (p.).

  • Depends on the size of p.
  • Chest pain:
    1. Sudden
    2. Sharp or stabbing
    3. Chest tightness
    4. Made worse by breathing or coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Cyanosis or bluish color to the skin and lips due to hypoxia (low oxygen level)
  • Rapid rate of breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Wheezing
  • Anxiety
  • Patient may be in Shock or unconscious, especially with trauma or tension p.


  • Primary p. -- in healthy individuals this occurs without any underlying diseases
  • Secondary -- complication of underlying lung disease
  • Spontaneous p. -- often occurs after the rupture of a bulla (a.k.a bleb) or blister (not found in normal lungs), which are small air-filled sacs in the lungs of individuals with certain risk factors.  Could be primary or secondary.

  • History:
  1. Symptoms
  2. Injuries
  3. Procedures or surgeries
  4. Illnesses
  5. Medications
  6. Habits
  7. Occupation
  8. Allergies
  • Medical exam:
    1. Skin may show the site of trauma
    2. Low Blood Pressure
    3. Fever may be present
    4. Cyanosis
    5. Air can leak under the skin (subcutaneous Emphysema) and has a spongy feel
    6. Pallor -- pale skin
    7. Rapid heart and respiration rate
    8. The chest movements are not symmetrical
    9. The trachea (major airway -- located in the center of the neck) may be shifted in tension p.
    10. When the doctor listens to the heart or the lungs, the normal sounds may be diminished or absent.
  • Tests:
    1. Chest X-Ray will show the abnormal air pocket, and Collapsed Lung or structures that have been pushed to one side.
    2. CAT scan, using computer imaging, shows detailed views of the chest and lungs.
    3. Blood tests may show low oxygen levels (<80 mm Hg) and acidic blood (acidosis = pH <7.35).

  • Spontaneous p.:
    1. Tall thin males in their 20-40s (Marfan's and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes)
    2. Family history of p.
    3. History of p. -- 50% chance of recurrence after one episode
    4. Cigarettes
    5. Asthma
    6. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or Emphysema
    7. Histiocytosis
    8. Cystic Fibrosis
    9. Whooping Cough
    10. Tuberculosis
    11. Cancer
    12. Rapid climbing to high altitudes or while scuba diving
    13. Pneumonias such as with Klebsiella or Staph. aureus
  • Secondary p.:
    1. Traumatic -- injury to the chest such as in knife or gunshot wounds, automobile accident, procedures like pleural biopsy, endoscopy, Thoracentesis, chest tube placement
    2. Tension p. -- the air is trapped and builds up with each breath.  It can put pressure on and shift other structures in the chest, such as the esophagus, trachea, heart, and blood vessels.
    3. Tension p. risk factors -- lung infections, trauma to the chest, mechanical ventilation (a machine that breathes for the patient), and CPR.

  • Outpatient treatment -- if there is no hypoxia (reduction of oxygen supply to tissues) and the collapse is less than 30%:
    1. Rest
    2. Assurance that air will be absorbed into the body without special treatment
    3. Oxygen therapy
    4. Monitor blood pressure, heart rate and breathing
  • In patient with severe symptoms and collapse >30%:
    1. Objective is to remove the air.
    2. General physician may consult with a surgeon or a pulmonologist (lung doctor).
    3. A needle may be used to remove the air.
    4. Aspiration involves inserting a catheter (Teflon tube) into the chest cavity (between the ribs) and attaching to a simple bottle (vacuum inside with no air).  This may be enough to expand the Collapsed Lung.
    5. A plastic chest tube is inserted through an incision in the chest (between the ribs) and then connected to suction.  This method may take few days to drain the trapped air and expand the Collapsed Lung.
  • Multiple episodes of Pneumothorax may require surgery or injection of medicines (talc or Doxycycline) into the pleural space.

  • Contact 911 and seek immediate medical attention.  If you've had previous episodes, Quit Smoking and talk to your doctor before high altitude climbing, flying, or scuba diving.





more about Air in the Chest


If you want your friend to read or know about this article, Click here






medical contents search

Home   |   About Us   |   Contact Us   |   Employment Ad   |   Help

Terms and Conditions under which this service is provided to you. Read our Privacy Policy.
Copyright © 2002 - 2003 eCureMe, Inc All right reserved.