In many cases, a person with pneumothorax will need emergency medical treatment, and emergency doctors will carry out the evaluation and diagnosis.
A doctor will look for signs of air in the space around the lungs.
They’ll ask about:
symptoms
personal and family medical history
recent activities
any previous cases of pneumothorax
They may also carry out imaging tests, like:
an X-ray
a CT scan
a thoracic ultrasound
Treatment aims to relieve pressure on the lung and allow it to re-expand.
The options will depend on:
how severe the condition is
whether the chest cavity is continuing to expand
the cause
whether it’s happened before or has been going on for some time
If you have tension pneumothorax or pneumothorax due to an injury, this is a life-threatening emergency. You’ll need immediate medical care and possibly surgery.
Here are some of the treatment strategies:
Observation
If pneumothorax results from a small injury, it may heal without treatment within a few days. Check with a doctor before flying or diving after pneumothorax.
If you’re having trouble breathing, you may need oxygen. Using oxygen can also help speed upTrusted Source the rate at which the lungs reabsorb air from the cavity.
Draining excess air
If the damage is significant or symptoms are severe, a surgeon may need to remove the air or carry out surgery.
Needle aspiration and chest tube insertion are two procedures designed to remove excess air from the pleural space in the chest. These can be done at the bedside without requiring general anesthesia.
In needle aspiration, the doctor inserts a needle into the cavity and extracts the air using a syringe.
For a chest tube insertion, the doctor will insert a hollowed tube between your ribs. This allows air to drain and the lung to reinflate. The tube may remain in place for 2 to 5 days or longer.
Surgery
The doctor may need to carry out a more invasive procedure to see what’s happening in your lungs, like a thoracotomy or thoracoscopy.
During a thoracotomy, your surgeon will create an incision in the pleural space to help them see the problem. During a thoracoscopy, also known as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), the doctor inserts a tiny camera through the chest wall to examine the lung.
If you’ve had repeated episodes of pneumothorax, you may need a small operation to repair any weak areas in the lung where the air is getting through. The doctor may also carry out pleurodesis, in which they stick the lung to the inside of the chest wall.
Other surgical options include:
sewing blisters closed
closing air leaks
or removing the collapsed portion of your lung, which is called a lobectomy
