General Information About Collapsed Lung
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the tearing of the lung tissue, causing the air inside it to escape into the chest cavity, and the accumulated air compressing the lung, leading to its collapse.
It can occur spontaneously (in tall and thin young people), due to chest traumas such as rib fractures, or because of underlying lung diseases like COPD/asthma.
Sudden onset of stabbing, one-sided pain in the chest, difficulty breathing, a dry cough, and palpitations are observed.
Yes, if the air accumulated in the chest cavity puts pressure on the heart and the other healthy lung (tension pneumothorax), it is an emergency that can stop vital functions.
It is suspected upon observing decreased breath sounds on the affected side during a physical examination, and a definitive diagnosis is made within seconds via a Chest X-ray or CT Scan.
Mild cases are monitored with oxygen therapy. If the collapsed area is large, a tube is inserted into the chest wall under local anesthesia (tube thoracostomy) to drain the trapped air.
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