Traumatic pneumothorax

Definition:

A collection of air or gas in the chest causing the lung to collapse usually caused by an injury to the chest (see also pneumothorax).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Traumatic pneumothorax occurs when a physical injury causes the lung to collapse. It can be the result of an injury or accident (gunshot or knife wounds to the chest, automobile accidents, scuba diving accidents), or can occur following medical procedures which accidentally allows air into the pleural space. High risk medical procedures include transbronchial biopsy, pleural biopsy, thoracentesis, chest tube placement, intracostal needle anesthesia, and esophagoscopy. The incidence is 3 out of 1,000 people.

Updated Date: 02/09/00

Updated By:J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director, Utah Health Informatics and adam.com editorial