Traumatic pneumothorax

Treatment:

The goal of treatment is to remove the air from the pleural space, allowing the lung to reexpand. Small pneumothoraces may resolve on their own.

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

The placement of a chest tube between the ribs into the pleural space allows the evacuation of air from the pleural space when simple aspiration is not successful, or the pneumothorax is large. Re-expansion of the lung may take several days with the chest tube left in place. Hospitalization is required for chest tube management.

Surgery may be indicated to repair tears in the lungs.

Patients should stop smoking and avoid high altitudes, scuba diving, or flying in unpressurized aircraft to prevent the recurrence of pneumothorax.

Expectations (prognosis):

There are no long-term complications following successful therapy.

Complications:

Untreated, the condition causes increasing difficulty breathing.

Calling your health care provider:

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

Updated Date: 02/09/00

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