Tension pneumothorax

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Chest tube insertion - series

Pneumothorax - chest X-ray

Respiratory system

A tension pneumothorax is a complete collapse of the lung. It occurs when air enters, but does not leave, the space around the lung (pleural space). It is a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate treatment.

See also pneumothorax.

Pneumothorax - tension

Any condition that leads to pneumothorax can cause a tension pneumothorax. In an uncomplicated pneumothorax, air can enter and leave the pleural space easily. In tension pneumothorax, however, air enters the pleural space with each breath and becomes trapped there.

As the amount of trapped air accumulates, pressure builds up in the chest. The lung collapses on that side and may push the important structures in the center of the chest (such as the heart, major blood vessels, and airways) toward the other side of the chest. The shift may cause compression of the opposite lung and may affect the flow of blood returning to the heart.

This situation can lead to low blood pressure, shock, and death.

Review Date: 08/10/2005
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.