Traumatic pneumothorax

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Pneumothorax - chest X-ray

Respiratory system

Collapsed lung

The goal of treatment is to remove the air from the pleural space, allowing the lung to re-expand. Small pneumothoraces may get better on their own.

Aspiration of air through a catheter to a vacuum bottle may re-expand the lung.

When aspiration is not successful or the pneumothorax is large, the placement of a chest tube between the ribs into the pleural space allows the air to be removed from the pleural space. Re-expansion of the lung may take several days with the chest tube left in place.

Hospitalization is required for chest tube management. Antibiotics may be given while the chest tube is in place.

Surgery may be needed to repair tears in the lungs or air passages.

How well a patient does depends on how serious the injuries are. However, there are usually no long-term effects after successful treatment for a pneumothorax.

• If untreated, tension pneumothorax can develop.
• There is a small risk of infection from placement of a chest tube.

Call your health care provider if symptoms come back after treatment of a traumatic pneumothorax.

Review Date: 08/11/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.