Pneumothorax (Collapsed Lung) is a condition where air is present in the pleural cavity, which occurs when there is a tear in the lung tissue. This can result from chest trauma, broken ribs, objects piercing the lung, or complications from medical procedures where a needle punctures through blood vessels in the chest and into the lung. However, there are cases reported on social media where healthy individuals suddenly experience a lung collapse or acute lung tear, requiring hospitalization or surgery. This indicates that sometimes even healthy individuals can develop this condition without any trauma.
Not a lung puncture, but an actual lung tear
Are you starting to wonder why people can have a lung tear even without an accident? Medically, pneumothorax is believed to be caused by the rupture of abnormal air sacs in the lungs, which can be divided into two groups:
- People with pre-existing lung problems, such as emphysema, previous lung diseases, or smokers. This group likely has weakened air sacs, and when inflammation or infection occurs, or mucus blocks the airways, it can lead to lung collapse or tearing.
- Healthy young individuals who suddenly experience a lung tear during daily activities. This group is believed to have structural abnormalities in the lung air sacs that may be congenital. When inflammation or blockage occurs, it causes high pressure on the fragile walls, leading to tears in these air sacs.
What symptoms indicate a lung tear or pneumothorax?
- Sudden sharp chest pain
- Shortness of breath, chest tightness, palpitations, rapid heartbeat due to air entering the pleural cavity, compressing the lung on that side and impairing its function
- Symptoms depend on the amount of air leaking into the pleural cavity. Some healthy patients may only have mild chest pain and think it’s nothing serious, so they do not seek medical attention. Leaving it untreated may cause the lung on that side to collapse, resulting in a smaller chest on that side over time. In cases of large air leaks, shortness of breath may occur.
Confirming pneumothorax diagnosis with X-ray
When a patient presents with suspicious symptoms, after history taking and physical examination, the doctor will confirm the diagnosis with a chest X-ray to assess the amount of air leakage. If the air leak is small, the patient will be advised to rest and breathe high-concentration oxygen, which helps reduce the air leak and allows the tear to heal on its own. However, if there is a large air leak causing breathing difficulty, air removal may be necessary through needle aspiration or chest tube insertion to drain the air.
If the doctor assesses the condition as severe, surgery may be required, especially if the tear is unlikely to close on its own, if a chest tube needs to be in place for several days, or if the patient has a history of pneumothorax or recurrent air leaks. Surgery involves removing the abnormal air sacs and sealing the pleura to prevent recurrence.
Who is at risk of pneumothorax?
Spontaneous pneumothorax commonly occurs in young, tall, thin males but can also occur in females, though less frequently and often with more complex causes such as pulmonary fibrosis or endometriosis involving the pleura. Therefore, everyone should have regular lung health check-ups so that any lesions or abnormalities can be detected and treated promptly, even before symptoms appear.
