Lung Collapse

A collapse of the lung, also called pneumothorax, occurs when air that normally circulates within the lung leaks into the space between the lung and the chest wall, pushing the lung down or causing it to collapse. This causes the affected section of the lung to shut down. In most cases, only a portion of the lung collapses, leaving the rest of the lung intact. 

A severe lung collapse can cause low blood oxygen levels, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, and shock. This is a medical emergency and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

What Causes Lung Collapse?

A lung collapse can occur as the result of trauma to the chest, damaged lung tissue, or a malfunction within the lung itself.

Trauma

Pneumothorax is usually caused by trauma to the chest. Traumatic events can include:

• a rib fracture
• a gun shot wound
• a knife wound
• a hard blow to the chest
• CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• a lung biopsy (using a needle through the chest)
• endoscopy procedures

Damaged Lung Tissue

Damaged lung tissue can also cause lung collapse. Damaged tissue isn’t as strong as healthy tissue, so it collapses more easily. This damage can be a result of inflammatory or traumatic lung disease, but it can also be caused by: and

• tuberculosis
• pneumonia
• lung cancer
• sarcoidosis (a chronic, nodular inflammatory disease)
• pulmonary fibrosis (the formation of excess connective tissue in the lungs)
• cystic fibrosis (hereditary condition with buildup of thick mucus in lungs and other organs)

Air Blebs

Air blebs are small, air-filled blisters that form on the outer lining of your lungs. They are not a sign of any disease or other lung condition, and experts aren’t sure why they form in certain people. Sometimes, these air blisters rupture spontaneously or due to changes in air pressure and cause pneumothorax. 

When to See a Doctor About Your Symptoms

When pneumothorax first occurs, you may feel a sharp pain in your chest that gets worse if you cough. You may also have difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. These symptoms can cause mild discomfort in some patients and are often confused with the symptoms of a chest cold or bronchitis. 

If the collapse affects a larger portion of your lung, you may experience other symptoms in conjunction with chest pain and shortness of breath. 

These symptoms include:

• tiring easily
• a rapid heart beat
• a tight feeling in the chest
• bluish skin tone
• low blood pressure
• flared nostrils when breathing

All symptoms of pneumothorax should be treated as a medical emergency. Even if the symptoms are mild, seek urgent care as soon as possible.

Part 4 of 6: Diagnosis

Diagnosing Pneumothorax

The doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope while asking you to breathe deeply and exhale. If your lung has collapsed, the doctor will have trouble hearing breathing sounds from the affected lung. If the doctor has trouble hearing your breathing sounds, he or she may order imaging tests to get a better look at your lungs. 

Doctors can easily identify a collapsed lung using a chest X-ray. Your doctor may also order an imaging test called a CT (computerized tomography) scan to view the affected lung in more detail.

Part 5 of 6: Treatment

Treating Lung Collapse

Treatments for a collapsed lung are designed to restore lung function by removing external pressure on the lung.

When Treatment is Unnecessary

If the lung collapse is mild or affects only a small portion of the lung, your doctor may choose to monitor it carefully rather than treat it. Throughout the course of observation you may have several chest X-rays. You may also be ordered to rest more to speed up the healing process. If your doctor feels it is necessary, he or she may give you supplemental oxygen to help your lungs recover.

Suctioning Off Excess Air

For collapses that affect a larger area of the lung, you will need treatment to remove the excess air from your chest cavity. The air may be removed using a chest tube or needle. A needle with a syringe is inserted into your chest near the area of collapse and in the area of your rib cage. Your doctor then pulls up the syringe on the needle to suction out the air. 

A chest tube is used in the same way, though it is usually connected to a water seal container or a machine that suctions the air continuously. If the area of collapsed lung is large, the machine may need to suction the area for several days.

Surgery

If an air leak from the lung is the underlying cause of the collapse, surgery may be necessary to repair the leak. Your doctors will make two small incisions in your chest and insert a fiber optic camera into one of them to view the lung. A surgical tool will be inserted into the other incision and used to close the leak.
If an air bleb is to blame, the surgeon will sew it closed. If no bleb is visible, he or she will instill a talc-like substance into the pleural space to cause irritation. The irritated will then seal itself together to close off the leak. 

 Written by April Kahn