What Are the Potential Hazards of Pneumothorax?
Pneumothorax is a serious condition that occurs when gas enters the pleural cavity due to lung disease or external force, leading to emphysema and pleural rupture. It poses numerous hazards to patients, including pleural damage, difficulty breathing, and abnormal lung function. In severe cases, it can be life-threatening. Therefore, patients with pneumothorax should avoid strenuous exercise and promptly undergo surgical decompression.
Pneumothorax refers to the condition where gas enters the pleural cavity, causing a state of pneumatosis. It is often caused by ruptures in the lung tissue and visceral pleura due to lung disease or external force, or ruptures in small pneumatoceles near the surface of the lung, allowing air from the lungs and bronchi to escape into the pleural cavity. It is more common in male young adults or those with chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or tuberculosis. This condition is considered an emergency in pulmonology, and severe cases can be life-threatening. Prompt treatment is essential for recovery. Factors that can trigger pneumothorax include strenuous exercise, coughing, and weightlifting.
When bubbles form in the lungs and suddenly rupture, gas can enter the chest cavity, compressing the heart and lungs, leading to difficulty breathing. Symptoms can include chest pain similar to angina when breathing deeply. If untreated promptly, it can even lead to death.
Patients with pneumothorax may suddenly experience pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing on one side of the chest, accompanied by coughing with little mucus. In mild cases of closed pneumothorax, symptoms may initially be severe but gradually improve over several hours. However, in patients with a large amount of air accumulation or pre-existing extensive lung disease, they may be unable to lie flat. When lying on their side, they may be forced to position the affected side of the pneumothorax upward to relieve shortness of breath. The severity of respiratory difficulty is related to the amount of air accumulation and the extent of pre-existing lung disease. Even a small, localized pneumothorax can cause significant chest pain and shortness of breath when pleural adhesions and reduced lung function are present.
During pneumothorax, the lung collapses due to retractive forces and fails to expand and contract with the movement of the chest wall, severely affecting lung ventilation and gas exchange. Additionally, the negative pressure in the pleural cavity disappears, which hinders the expansion of the vena cava and thoracic duct, leading to impaired lymphatic and venous return in the chest cavity and subsequent circulatory dysfunction.
