Pneumothorax

A pneumothorax is a pathological accumulation of air between the lungs and the chest. The air usually enters this space through a small or large hole in the lung. A pneumothorax can occur spontaneously and without any recognisable underlying disease - but is more common in smokers, people with lung diseases or after accidents with chest injuries.

A pneumothorax can lead to a complete collapse of the affected lung. Typical symptoms are sudden shortness of breath and stabbing pain in the chest area. In severe cases, cardiovascular failure can occur.

The accumulation of air between the lungs and chest can lead to complete collapse of the lungs with shortness of breath and cardiovascular failure. Other patients report a usually stabbing pain in the chest area.

The patient interview and physical examination with a stethoscope usually provide decisive clues. The diagnosis is confirmed by a chest X-ray. In certain cases, a computerised tomography scan of the chest may be necessary for surgical planning.

The treatment consists of the immediate insertion of a chest drain. After a local anaesthetic, a small incision is made in the affected area of the chest wall and a tube is inserted. This allows the air between the lungs and the chest to escape and the displaced lung to expand again. Surgical intervention may be necessary in the event of recurrence or an underlying lung disease. At the UKBB, this is performed using a minimally invasive keyhole technique via three small (5 mm) incisions in the chest. It may be necessary to remove a small part of the affected lung.

Depending on the severity of the pneumothorax and any underlying illness, hospitalisation usually lasts between one to two days and one week.

The prognosis is usually very good. However, after surgery, flying and diving are temporarily prohibited until the lung has fully healed.