ELI5: pneumothorax
// explanation
What is a pneumothorax?
A pneumothorax is when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall, like a balloon getting a hole in it [1][3]. This air pushes on your lung and makes it collapse, kind of like squeezing a balloon so it gets smaller [4].
Why does it happen?
Air can escape from your lung when there's a tear or hole, either from an injury or sometimes for no clear reason [1]. The air then fills up the space around your lung instead of staying inside it where it belongs [3].
What does it feel like?
You might suddenly feel sharp chest pain on one side and have trouble breathing, similar to when you get the wind knocked out of you [5]. Your chest might feel tight and uncomfortable, and you could feel scared or panicky [1].
How do you fix it?
Doctors can help by letting the extra air out of your chest cavity so your lung can re-expand and work properly again [4]. Sometimes your body absorbs the air on its own, but other times doctors need to use a needle or tube to help remove it [1].
// sources
Aug 8, 2024 ... A collapsed lung occurs when air leaks into the space between your lung and chest wall. This air pushes on the outside of your lung and ...
A pneumothorax is a collection of air outside the lung but within the pleural cavity. It occurs when air accumulates between the parietal and visceral pleura ...
Jan 8, 2025 ... A collapsed lung occurs when air escapes from the lung. The air then can fill the space outside of the lung between the lung and chest wall.
Nov 16, 2023 ... A pneumothorax is when air gets inside your chest cavity and creates pressure against your lung, causing it to collapse partially or fully.
A pneumothorax is collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. [3] Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided ...
Video by Osmosis from Elsevier
Video by The Paramedic Coach
Video by Lecturio Medical
