Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentRecovery & Recurrence
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Recovery & Recurrence
A pneumothorax is an accumulation of air or gas in the space between the lung and the chest wall that occurs when a hole develops in the lung that allows air to escape. This causes the lung to partially or completely collapse, hence the condition’s other name: collapsed lung. In the United States, 5 million people are treated for it each year.
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Symptoms of a large pneumothorax include:
Other symptoms may include distended neck veins, nasal flaring, anxiety, or low blood pressure (hypotension).
Since symptoms can range from mild to severe, it’s not uncommon for it to take several days to realize something is wrong and seek treatment. If you develop any symptoms of pneumothorax, be sure to seek immediate medical attention. In some cases, it can be a life-threatening emergency.
Rarely, for reasons not well understood, women may experience a non-traumatic pneumothorax during their menstrual period calledcatamenial pneumothorax. This condition occurs when endometrial tissue becomes attached to the thorax and forms cysts. The cysts can release blood and air that enter the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse.
Risk Factors
Men—especially tall men—under the age of 40 and whites of non-Hispanic origin are most at risk for this disorder. In the United States, the incidence is about 7 in 100,000 for men, and 1 in 100,000 women each year.
Smokingis the most significant risk factor for spontaneous pneumothorax. For smokers, the lifetime risk is as high as 12%, compared to 0.1% in those who have never smoked.
Pneumothorax can alsorun in families. As many as one in 10 people who experience a pneumothorax that occurs for no known reason have a family history of the disorder.
In addition, the chest wall, which normally rises equally on both sides upon inhalation, may show an inability to rise on the affected side.
Tests that support a diagnosis of pneumothorax include:
In some cases, smaller pneumothoraces go away on their own. However, a large pneumothorax will require hospitalization.
To treat a pneumothorax, a needle must be inserted between the ribs into the space between the lung and the chest wall in a procedure calledneedle aspirationto help remove the air and re-inflate the lung.
A chest (thoracostomy) tube may then be inserted and will stay in place for one day or several days (depending on the cause of the pneumothorax) while you recover in the hospital. If the pneumothorax recurs, video-assistedthoracic surgerymay be required.
Recovery and Recurrence
If you have a pneumothorax, you should not fly until you’ve received stabilizing treatment (such as with a thoracostomy tube). You also should not fly or scuba dive for two weeks following discharge from a hospital after being treated. If you have a history of recurrent pneumothorax, always use caution when engaging in these activities.
The risk of having another pneumothorax is highest in the first 30 days after your first occurrence. Over the next year, the risk of having another also remains higher than normal. Estimates of recurrence vary from 20% to up to 60% during the first three years.
The good news is that once a pneumothorax has healed, there are usually no long-term complications.
A Word From Verywell
Because it affects one of the body’s most basic functions—breathing—experiencing a pneumothorax may be frightening. It’s important to remember that, while it’s a serious condition, it is highly treatable. Prompt medical care and continuing to take care of your lungs and health over time will help ensure a full recovery.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cleveland Clinic.Collapsed lung (pneumothorax). December 1, 2013.
Zarogoulidis P, Kioumis I, Pitsiou G, et al.Pneumothorax: from definition to diagnosis and treatment.J Thorac Dis. 2014;6(Suppl 4):S372-6. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2014.09.24
Primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Genetics Home Reference. MedlinePlus. August 18, 2020.
Sajadi-Ernazarova KR, Martin J, Gupta N.Acute pneumothorax evaluation and treatment. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. August 12, 2019.
Tulay CM, Özsoy IE.Spontaneous Pneumothorax Recurrence and Surgery. Indian J Surg. 2015 Dec;77(Suppl 2):463-5. doi:10.1007/s12262-013-0876-6
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