Pneumothorax

Pneumothorax

An accumulation of air in the pleural cavity called pneumothorax.

Classification : 

1. Spontaneous pneumothorax

2. Traumatic pneumothorax

3. Therapeutic or artificial pneumothorax

1. Spontaneous Pneumothorax : It occur due to spontaneous rupture of alveoli in any disease of lungs.

Causes : Most commonly associated with - 

i. Emphysema

ii. Asthma

iii. Tuberculosis

Other causes are : 

i. Chronic bronchitis, Bronchiectasis, Pulmonary infarction and Bronchial cancer ( in old patient).

ii. Recurrent spontaneous rupture of peripheral subpleural blebs without any cause called Spontaneous Idiopathic Pneumothorax ( in young patient ).

2. Traumatic Pneumothorax : It is occur due to traumatic cause called traumatic pneumothorax.

Causes : 

i. Chest wall or lungs trauma.

ii. Ruptured oesophagus or stomach.

iii. Surgical operation of the thorax.

3. Therapeutic or artificial Pneumothorax : It is the first positive treatment of tuberculosis in which air was introduced into the pleural sac so as to collapse the lungs and limit its respiratory movement. That is now replaced by chemotherapy.

Clinical Features : If the quantity of air in the pleura is small, it is reabsorbed but if the quantity of air is in large amount that cause -

i. Dyspnoea

ii. Chest pain.

iii. Lung collapse

iv. Push the mediastinum to the unaffected side.

v. Lungs act as a flap-valve and create Tension Pneumothorax (it  allows entry of air during inspiration but does not permit its escape during expiration).

vi. Circulatory failure.

Source : Textbook of pathology (Harsh Mohan) 7th edition