Pneumothorax Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Definition
Pneumothorax is a condition where a certain amount of air is trapped in the pleural space. The pleural cavity is a cavity that lies between the lungs and the chest wall. Under normal circumstances, the pleural space is filled with very little air.
There are two types of pneumothorax, namely simple pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax. In tension pneumothorax, the air trapped in the pleural space continues to increase. The large volume of trapped air pushes the heart, lungs and blood vessels even more. Meanwhile, in a simple pneumothorax, the amount of trapped air does not increase.
Pneumothorax is common in young people with an age range of 20-30 years. This condition is especially often experienced by those who have a thin and tall posture.
Symptom
In general, the symptoms of a pneumothorax that sufferers usually complain of are shortness of breath and chest pain which will get worse when breathing. This chest pain can then radiate to the shoulders and neck.
In simple pneumothorax, the patient’s condition is generally quite stable. Even though there are complaints of shortness of breath and chest pain, the patient’s blood pressure and heart rate are usually within normal limits.
Meanwhile, in tension pneumothorax, the patient is in an emergency. There are symptoms of shortness of breath that is getting worse, consciousness will gradually decrease, and blood pressure will also drop until the patient can go into shock. If not treated quickly, the possibility of the patient’s life could not be saved is very large.
Reason
The most common cause of pneumothorax is an injury to the chest area. For example due to impact on the chest during an accident. In addition, pneumothorax can also occur spontaneously in people with lung diseases (such as tuberculosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Several risk factors that make a person more susceptible to pneumothorax include:
- Gender. Men are known to have a higher risk than women.
- Disease history. People who are suffering from or have had lung disease are also at high risk. Likewise with people who have experienced pneumothorax before.
- Have a smoking habit. Smokers are more at risk of developing pneumothorax compared to people who do not have smoking habits.
- genetic factor. Some types of pneumothorax can be caused by hereditary factors.
Diagnosis
The doctor will conduct a detailed medical interview and physical examination to determine the diagnosis of pneumothorax. A physical examination of the chest area by a doctor is very important in this determination process.
If there is a suspicion of pneumothorax from the physical examination carried out, an X-ray examination will be recommended. The goal is to confirm the results of the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment of pneumothorax depends on the type of pneumothorax being experienced. In simple pneumothorax, the initial treatment is to provide oxygen through a cannula or nasal mask.
In tension pneumothorax, the initial treatment is to insert a needle into the chest cavity that has a pneumothorax. This action is called needle decompression. This step should be done as soon as possible by a doctor. Needle decompression aims to stop air from continuously entering the pleural space.
After carrying out initial aid, the main treatment for pneumothorax is to install a WSD (water-sealed drainage ). This action is performed by inserting a tube into the pleural cavity. The hose is connected to a sealed container filled with water.
WSD aims to move the air in the pleural cavity into the closed container. Generally, the WSD is installed for several weeks, depending on the severity of the pneumothorax that occurs.
Prevention
To prevent pneumothorax, as much as possible avoid hard impact in the chest area.